Learn how to defeat diabetes

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Most healthy peoples blood sugar levels that stay within certain limits. If you are suffering from diabetes your blood sugar levels, or your plasma glucose level as it is also called, will be consistently outwith the normal range. Glucose blood levels are measured by millimoles. So what are the different ranges of blood sugar levels?

The blood sugar levels of a healthy person vary from between 4 mmols and 7 mmols. These levels will vary during the day and night, but as a general rule your levels should be between 4 mmols and 7 mmols before meals, 10 mmols ninety minutes after a meal and around 8mmols before you go to bed. You can buy a simple kit to keep an eye on your blood sugar levels.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes then it is likely that your sugar levels vary from the ‘normal’ range. Even when a persons diabetes is under control sugar levels can drift. It is very important that you keep an eye on your blood glucose as not doing this can lead to serious illness.

Retinopathy is a condition that causes blockages and swelling in the small blood vessels in the back of the eye, this damage is caused by a long term environment too high in blood sugar. It can lead to complications such as protein leaking out into the retina of the eye and, in extreme cases blindness caused by swelling leading to oxygen not being able to reach the eye.

The kidneys can be affected by lengthy irregularities in blood glucose plasma levels too. Nephropathy is the name given to diabetic kidney disease, it is caused by the same clogging and inflammation that causes retinopathy and the symptoms, once the illness has progressed, are nausea, a metallic taste, fatigue and heartburn. You are at higher risk of developing the illness if you are of Afro Caribbean or Asian origin or have type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic nerve damage or neuropathy occurs when the small nerve fibers leading to the bodies extremities, usually the feet, become damaged due to a long term excess of sugar in the blood. This damage can cause a lack of feeling in the feet meaning that ulcers or wounds go unnoticed possibly leading to infection. It is possible to minimize the risk of developing these illnesses. By monitoring and controlling your blood sugar levels.

Different types of diabetes require different frequencies of monitoring. Insulin controlled diabetes tends to need to be monitored before every meal and tablet or diet controlled is usually twice a week. Always make sure you check with your health care provider though as every ones needs change and are different.

The monitoring of your blood glucose plasma levels is one of the most important parts of controlling your diabetes. By not medicating or checking that your levels are being controlled you run the risk of an increased chance of developing a related illness

With the cost of medicines and consultants fees ever escalating it is becoming more and more important for diabetics to find mays and means to curb the cost of their glucose monitoring equipment and medications required to keep their glucose levels in check.

Statistics show that the person suffering from diabetes is likely to spend around ,000 per year in prescription, and medical care this compares with the average of ,000 being spent on prescriptions and medical services by people who do not suffer from diabetes. Therefore diabetes suffers are keen to find ways to get their diabetes supplies for free.

What You Need To Know About Free Diabetes Supplies

Fortunately, the government will provide you with Free diabetes supplies if you cannot afford to purchase them. For those among us who have health insurance you will find that there are also some insurance companies that include these services under their policies. In fact, the majority of diabetes service companies are affiliated with health insurance companies and as part of their cover, which is why you can get free diabetes supplies through the.

Where Do you Find Free Diabetes Supplies?

You need to be covered by health insurance such as Medicare and Medicaid both of which are associated with diabetes supply companies. Once you are covered, you should ask your health insurance provider which diabetes supply company they are associated with. Most of these companies have either a Free Diabetes Supply policy or offer these supplies at heavily discounted prices , they also offer free delivery.

Apart From The Financial Saving, Why Should You Use Free Diabetes Supplies

The aim of the medical profession is to insure that you get your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. However, if you have any medical conditions that affect your ability to control your glucose level, then these levels may be a bit higher which is a concern. Keeping a close watch on your glucose levels as directed by medical professionals will insure you enjoy relatively good levels of health.

Therefore, it is important that you have on hand reliable blood glucose monitors, meters and other equipment so that you can monitor your present blood sugar levels. Of course, this equipment and supplies can be quite costly because you have to pay for blood glucose monitors and test strips. It is actually these test strips that can leave a big hole in your pocket, which is why free diabetes supplies are offered and are very much appreciated by sufferers of diabetes.

It is important that you remember that diabetes supplies are subject to expiry dates, therefore, it is unwise to go out and purchase bulk diabetes supplies as if these supplies expire then you are likely to receive inaccurate glucose level readings which can be very dangerous to your overall health. Even if you decide to purchase large quantities of your supplies they will still cost you a lot of money, this is why you should look for companies that can provide you with free diabetes supplies.

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
How do I afford my diabetes supplies with no insurance?
There has GOT to be some kind of program for students who have diabetes and go to school full time. I am not going to a regular university so they dont have medical aid. Theres no way in hell I can afford 0 a month for insulin and 0 a month for test strips or any of that. I was thinking about the everyone benefits program but that only pays a small percentage of the cost. Are poor diabetics just meant to fall over and die or what? I do not think so! What do all you other no insurance diabetics do out there to afford your supplies, any one know of anything at ALL that would help me?

ANSWER:
The government requires that all drug companies give “X” amounts of drugs to people who need them and cant afford them. While they cant give you test strips and meters…they do have available your insulin or oral medications. Your local doctor’s office can assist you in acquiring this medications. It is geared towards low income people…most are “age unlimited” programs..which means…no matter what your age is…you can still qualify for these programs. Some are just geared towards people on medicare also. That commercial for “Prescription Assistance” is a very good source to get started. While some doctor’s do NOT want to hassle with these programs, they should help their patients out anyway they can! I worked for a doctor’s office for 5 years and I did this for many, many patients who otherwise would have had to choose between food and medicine. I also got testing supplies for them through “Liberty Medical supplies”, but I think you have to get medicare to use them….wouldn’t hurt to check them out though.
Best wishes for a healthy year!

QUESTION:
Is it ok to use liberty medical and programs like that for diabetes supplies?
What I mean is, will it be easier and is there any disadvantages or cons to using programs like this for diabetes supplies?

ANSWER:
There are lots and lots of places that you can use for diabetes supplies, but one of the key factors is what kind of insurance you have and what restrictions that insurance places on you. It wouldn’t make much sense to use a provider that costs you a bundle if you can get supplies for free somewhere else. What irritates me about the Liberty Medical ads I’ve seen is that they say they can provide the supplies for free! Yippee! Sure, they can bill your insurance company just like the local Walgreens can.
Start with your health insurance plan (hopefully you have one), then shop by cost to you and check out the track record of any mail order place. It can be very convenient to order a 90 day supply and have it delivered, but it can also be great to get things at the local pharmacy where you talk to a real live person and can see what you are buying.
Also, if you are using diabetes medications like metformin, keep in mind that Target and I think Walgreens has generic drug discounts – so metformin can cost all of .00 a month.

QUESTION:
Offering Diabetes supplies over the phone, totally covered by medicare.How do I keep the person interested?
How do I keep the person interested? We ships supplies billed to medicare absolutely free to the patient every 3 months no gimmicks. I understand the more calls I make the better I get but I need to come up with the perfect “script”. Most people already have a company who ships their supplies. I want them to allow our company to send their supplies. What can I say to make these people want to change suppliers?

ANSWER:
your company didn’t provide you with a script?

There is no perfect script. Marketing companies compile what they believe will work in all situations, but people are different and a good salesman has an innate ability to ‘sniff out’ those differences. Other factors include personality (charm) and voice (pleasant sounding).

people don’t like telemarketing (especially the hard sale), and as long as they are reasonably happy with their current supplier and you’re not offering any greater benefit, most aren’t going to want to change. That’s just the way it is. The rest feel pressured to say yes (hard sale) and are rarely happy with the outcome because of it.

I prefer the soft sale, but even then, I never say yes

QUESTION:
How do I get free diabetes supplies?
I live in NW Indiana and I have no insurance and am a Type 2 diabetic. Does anyone know how/where/anything about getting free or low cost supplies?

ANSWER:
If you want to make it simple I would go to your local health department. I’m sure they will be able to help you if you don’t have health insurance.

QUESTION:
Is there help for paying for Diabetes supplies anywhere?
I have just been diagnosed with diabetes and and currently unemployed and uninsured. Anybody have any suggestions on what to do next?

ANSWER:
Check out this thread over at Diabetes Forums about several different Prescription Assistance Programs offered.

QUESTION:
How to carry diabetes supplies when going to an amusement park?
I’m going to King’s Island next month and I’m a 22 year old Type 1 diabetic. I hate using a fanny pack…they’re hidious. But I need to carry my meter and glucose tabs with me, along with some money and my camera. Any ideas for how to carry these things without having to use a fanny pack? I was thinking a small backpack would be unconfortable on roller coasters.

ANSWER:
I can’t think of anything else you can do. They have small back packs, not all of them are big. But a fanny pack is more convenient, it’s right at your hand….unless you take a purse of some kind, but they are a real pain at an amusement park….

QUESTION:
Is there something that will help you buying your diabetes supplies if you have no insurance?
I am looking for a website for my mother that might help with purchasing her glucose strips and needles.

ANSWER:

https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php

This might help

QUESTION:
what is the blue butterfly that they use for the logo for freestyle diabetes supplies?
Its the bright blue butterfly on the commercials and on the corner of the testing box.

ANSWER:
Micca,

It may not be a real butterfly. They may have just decided to make up their own butterfly for their logo. Why don’t you email the company and ask them. I’m sure they’d be glad to tell you.

Either way, their are moths in that color, but I don’t know their name.

QUESTION:
Can you carry diabetes supplies on a plane?
You shouldn’t have to put your insulin, needles, tester, etc. in your checked luggage but will TSA freak if they’re in your carry-on?

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Where does one buy diabetes supplies for pets?
If not from the vet, where else?

ANSWER:
try online

QUESTION:
Where Can I Find Diabetic Supplies For My Diabetes?
Where can I find out where I can get Diabetic supplies for my Diabetes? Currently I’m on Medicade and I live in the state of NC.

ANSWER:
Your Doctor , will prescribe them if you need them, Ask ( Him or Her) for help in getting things set up if he says you need them. It is not an over the counter thing , and needs to be carefully monitored, and have proper Instructions as to how to take your med, Or Insulin, And ask for a diabetes diet sheet. It may be a lot different then what you would normally eat, but over time , you will feel better for it.

QUESTION:
does anyone use liberty medical for their diabetes supplies?
i spoke with a liberty medical rep yesterday about signing up for their supply service. my daughter has type 1. does anyone else use their service and are they reliable? i want to know that i am doing the right thing as opposed to going to the pharmacy once a month.

ANSWER:
as long as you have an “in town” street address or mail address, you can safely get these supplies from a “mail order” pharmacy.

If you have a rural mail delivery service, and don’t get mail every day, your supplies can either freeze or bake and be no good.

It is a lot less expensive to get supplies once every 3 months as there is only 4 copays per year compared to 12 copays per year with pharmacy.

But if you drop a vial or pen and break it, you will have to go to the doctor for 1 time Rx to replace that vial and still have to pay the copays.

If there is a sub driver on delivery truck, your Rx’s may be delivered incorrectly or “lost” and you still have to pay for them.

Lots of cons, but more pros on these kinds of services.

QUESTION:
does anybody know if Medtronic Diabetes Supplies has an email address to contact them?
I am a new customer never ordered from them before can’t seem to get help on the phone without long long wait right now I have been waiting for 27 minutes I would order from someone else but my insurance says they are it.. Help please

ANSWER:

http://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/help/contact/index.html#

QUESTION:
Is there any resources ou there to help people with diabetes to cover cost of pump supplies?
I am a diabetic that is currently using an insulin pump for my diabetes management and I have insurance but the insurance that I have does not cover the extra costs with the pump supplies, which is huge. I am not the only one with this issue I am sure. My fear is that I will have to stop using the insulin pump because of the cost which will take away the one thing that has made me feel like a normal person again or as close to as can be. I feel that there are companies making huge amounts of money from the people that have diabetes whom have no other choice but to make them richer because if they don’t they die, there just seems to be an imbalance there. So please if there is any one out there that might have any ideas that can be done with this unfair imbalance of the american way.

ANSWER:
I would contact your pump company and see if they can speak with your insurance. Usually the insurance, if they paid for the pump, should pay for your sites and resevoirs. Tape I found they dont want to pay for since its not a “necessity” even though it is. But if Minimed, or who ever you go through speaks with the insurance they can usually come to an agreement for payment. Or even having your Dr. get involved helps cause if its Dr. prescribed, which supplies are, then the insurance should be covering at least some of it. I went through this at one point as well with my insurance, i had both minimed and my Diabetes Dr talk with the insurance and they started covering the sites and resevoirs again.

QUESTION:
Airline Security and diabetes supplies?
I will be traveling by air for the first time since I started using insulin last year. Does anyone have any advice/tips for traveling, especially passing through TSA security with insulin, syringes, other medication and supplies. I have read the TSA info, but wanted to find out from others who have the experience of traveling with their supplies on a regular basis.

ANSWER:
Diabetic supplies ARE allowed on flights. Just make sure the TSA knows you have them and that all supplies are properly labeled and you will be allowed to carry them onboard… no problem.

They may have to go through a visual security check, but that takes all of 2 minutes…

Enjoy your flight !!!

QUESTION:
Diabetes testing supplies cheap?
If you or someone you know has diabetes, where do you buy your testing strips?
They are so high everywhere that I have checked.

I am not elgible for free clinics and their supplies.

ANSWER:
The relion brand meter and strips (sold only online) are 22$ for 50 strips- a steal.

http://www.relion.com/diabetes/blood_glucose_testing.htm

QUESTION:
what is the best site or message board for free diabetes supplies and other related stuff?
All I see are websites full of stupid surveys

ANSWER:
what type of stuff are you looking for?

your best bet is to contact either your doctor or the manufacturer of whatever it is you’re looking for. there will most likely be certain criteria that you’ll have to meet to qualify for the programs though.

they’re not going to give it to you without some sort of effort on your part though…that’s what the surveys are.

remember, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

QUESTION:
Why do Tea Partyers refer to their Medicare-paid for mobility scooters and diabetes supplies as “free”?

ANSWER:
IF they did say that it might be because there is not charge to the person who needs it. Did you really need that explained?

QUESTION:
How can I get information on paying for medical supplies for a juvenile who has diabetes?
I have a cousin that has juvenile diabetes. The family has no insurance and it probably over the income for a medical card/chips program.

ANSWER:
Don’t be so sure about being over the income for the chips program. They should at least try to apply. They might have to pay a portion of the cost but would at least be able to get medical supplies with the prescription plan.

QUESTION:
Where can I legally sell some diabetes supplies (insulin and syringes)- I’m going on a pump.?
I live on Long Island and would like to sell some supplies so I can buy other diabetic supplies.. (or trade for)

ANSWER:
You may want to keep some of those supplies because when you are on a pump there are still certain circumstances where you may need them. If you are sick and have ketones or your pump is not working properly it is recommended that you take insulin by injection. If you have Humalog, that will be used with your pump and long lasting insulin like Lantus is good to have on hand in case your pump ever malfunctions.

Also, as those supplies are all available only by prescription I’m not sure that you would be able to sell them.

Good luck with your pump.
My 16 year old son has one and loves it.

QUESTION:
Diabetes supplies for non-insured?
Is there a way to get diabetic testing supplies at low cost or no cost? I have type 1 diabetes and have not had insurance in several years. I am only able to work part time and cannot afford to buy testing supplies out of pocket.

ANSWER:
Wal-Mart carries a brand of supplies called Relion Ultima. The machine costs 8 bucks and you could get 100 strips for 43 bucks. It’s a reliable machine and very inexpensive compared to most others.

QUESTION:
My Welsh boyfriend is coming to Canada to live. He has type 1 diabetes. Will his supplies be covered?
supplies be covered?

ANSWER:
Non-status Population
This group refers to people with no current legal status in Canada. It includes both those who have never had legal status in Canada, as well as those whose legal status (e.g., temporary resident status) has expired or been revoked.
Non-status people are not entitled to provincial health insurance. However, in Ontario, funding is provided to community health centres to provide limited health services to this population. In general, non-status people have to pay out of pocket for medical services received.

He may be able to get reimbursed from Wales. So keep all receipts,
But on the other hand :::
One of the core principles in the Canada Health Act is universality.(1) Under this Act, the provinces are required to entitle all “insured persons” to the provinces’ insured health services on uniform terms and conditions, or risk forfeiting the federal government’s full cash contribution to the province for the fiscal year. “Insured persons” are all of the residents of the province, excluding certain groups(2) and those who have not completed a minimum period of residence (of three months or less) set by the province. According to the Act, a resident is a person lawfully entitled to be in or to remain in Canada who makes his home and is ordinarily present in the province, but does not include a tourist, a transient or a visitor to the province.

Good luck

Tin

QUESTION:
Donating Diabetes Supplies?
My gestational Diabetes days are over, and I have A LOT of unused Diabetes Supplies! Does anyone know where I can donate these supplies to a person in need.. children? People that can’t afford it… there has to be an organization out there somewhere…

ANSWER:
Try your local community health clinic.

QUESTION:
for username and password to get my diabetic supplies from medtronic diabetes I have followed the instructions?
I have followed the instructions they gave me to put my e-mail in but they claim I’m not in the system
but I know I am because they send me a bill each month. Also when I try to re-register they say “Oh we found you”!! does anyone who uses medtronic diabetes know how to reset their username/password thanks

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Does anyone know where to find a stylish diabetes bag for supplies?

ANSWER:
Try this link: http://www.couragebag.com/

QUESTION:
Does anyone know where i can get free help on diabetes supplies?
I have been told that i have diabetes and i have trouble controlling it. So i have to keep checking several times a day so i run out of the strips real quick. The price per box are a little more than one 0 and i can go thru two three boxes a month. So i really need help since i’m single parent with 2children and having a hard time to begin with and now this to make things worst. I really love my children and i really need to take care of myself so ican be here to take care on them. My sugar level is always running anywhere between 400 to 525 so i’m at a very high risk on having a stroke, heart attack, and/or going into coma. So i have to keep checking so i can make sure i give myself my insulin to keep trying to bring it down. So if anybody knows where i can get some free help on supplies please help me. I do work and i can’t go to the free clinics for help on this, my children can’t even get any kind of assistance. Sorry i don’t mean to go on and on about this Thanks all!

ANSWER:
There is a program to help people with “No Insurance,”No Federal Assistance(like Medicaid)
“Low Income:”
Abbott Diabetic Care Patient Assistance Program
Call: 1-800-222-6885 (Toll Free)
If you qualify you will receive a “Good” glucose Meter “Free” and “Free” Glucose Strips every 3 months for (1 year.)According to your doctors prescription.
Call and wait to talk with an operator,they will tell you everything you will need to do.
They will send you an Application for you and your doctor to fill-out.Your doctor will need to write you a “Prescription” for “How Many Times A Day” He wants you to test your blood sugar. You will also need a copy of your last W-2 form.(Your Proof of Income) Send in everything they ask for to: Abbott Patient Assistance Program
Diabetes-Care
200 Abbott Park Rd. D-31c AP 52-1s
Abbott Park, IL. 60064-6161

After they receive everything, it takes about 2 weeks to process, You will receive a Letter letting you know if you have qualified for the Program. & about 1 week later you should receive your Meter & your first 3 month supplies if you qualified. It’s a “Great” Program.
You will need to re- apply to the program each year. You can call later and find out when you need to re-apply for the next year.

QUESTION:
Has anyone ever had trouble getting reimbursed from Caremark for diabetes testing supplies?
In August of 2007 (11 months ago) I purchased test strips for my One Touch glucometer. I called my insurance company to ask what they needed me to send in. I sent it. No reimbursement. I called again and they said I needed a special form. Again, I sent it in and no reimbursement. Then I was told the address was wrong. Now they are saying they have no record of my filing the claim (although they did before). I think they are trying to get me to give up. I cannot afford strips out of pocket and this is what I am paying insurance premiums for to begin with. They are supposed to cover diabetes supplies. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I go the Better Business Bureau? Should I consult a lawyer? My hemoglobin A1c keeps getting worse because I have not been able to purchase test strips without reimbursement. I feel like I have a valid lawsuit, but I am only one person going against a big corporation. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER:
I’m a pharmacist and I see these kinds of problems all the time. Caremark provides thousands of different insurance plans and each one is different. Not all drugs are covered on every single plan. Each plan is different and just because another Caremark customer gets diabetic supplies covered does not necessarily mean that your strips will be covered.

First, call member services and ask if One Touch test strips are covered on your insurance plan and what your co-pay should be. That will tell you right off the bat whether or not you can even ask for reimbursement.

Some insurance companies will only reimburse you if the claim occurred within the last six months. Usually the longest length of time that you can ask for a reimbursement is 12 months from the date of the claim. You’re either passed the deadline or are pretty close to it.

Also too, did you purchase the test strips with or without a prescription? If you purchased them without a prescription, you will not get reimbursed.

Is your insurance through Medicaid Part D? Or is it through your work place? If you get Caremark through Medicaid Part D, then the doctor must have written a special code on the prescription and the pharmacy should have billed Caremark.

Insurance is very complicated. Unfortunately, I doubt you could successfully win a law suit. For one thing, it will be a lot more expensive than your test strips and they have lawyers to deal with this kind of stuff all the time. They will probably find some way to show that you did not meet whatever criteria they put forth to get a reimbursement therefore you don’t qualify for a reimbursement (dirty, I know).

Here’s my advice: keep calling member services. Different workers will probably give you different answers. Think about buying Wal-Mart’s generic glucometer- it’s way cheaper and the test strips are way cheaper too. I’ve seen some people on here post that their machines are goofy but I’ve also heard some really good feedback too.

QUESTION:
What medical insurance will cover medical supplies for a 20 year old male with type 1 diabetes?
I need an insurance that will pay for my 0+ in medical expenses that I am currently paying out of pocket.

Some information that may effect what you recommend to me:
- I am married
- I am in college with no side jobs
- I live in Michigan

Any help?

ANSWER:
Well, LOTS of insurances will do this – but they’re not going to give you a policy for less than the known costs, PLUS some extra, for the unknown costs.

And frankly, in MI, you’re not going to find private insurance willing to cover a type 1 diabetic, AT ALL, until 2014. And THEN, the price will be sky high.

Your best bet, is going to be getting a real job, with health insurance through your employer. You can’t afford the luxury of being a full time college student, unless your spouse is willing/able to support you.

QUESTION:
Where can I get free diabetes testing supplies?

ANSWER:
Contact the American Diabetes Foundation and they will direct you to numerous contacts

QUESTION:
where i can get diabetes supplies (even if it is online) in India?
Like Glucometer,Glucometer Strips,Sugarfree foods,diabetic footwear n more….

ANSWER:
At the drug store buy a Glucometer. That measures glucose levels in the blood.I take it she is type 2 diabetic.

Besides that I would go to http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/index.php because the more info you have the better you can manage diabetes.

There are 4 key steps to controlling glucose levels :
1) EXERCISE- Walking is fine but Nordic Walking is Great. Exercise also lowers Glucose levels , lowers Cholesterol and lowers Blood Pressure. Google it.Exercise is Non-Negotiable !!!Thats why it is Number 1 on the list.
2) Knowledge- http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/index.ph… This is a great site for info
3) Meds. Metformin to start.
4) Diet- A low carb diet is in order. I can’t count carbs so I use Mendosa’s Glycemic Index Diet. Great for the whole family. http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm

I have followed these 4 steps with great success..

Take care

Buff

QUESTION:
diabetes supplies cost comparison?
why can i get cheaper test strips from amazon then the big pharmacies like Target or Walgreens? also do sam’s club or costco carry them?

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Walmart health care plan and type 1 diabetes?
I work part time at Walmart while attending college. I just became eligible for health insurance. I was wondering if anyone could help me choose what plan to get that will help pay for my insulin and other diabetes supplies such as serenges and test strips. I have never had any insurance and neither has my parents. I have paid out of pocket and if the insurance is cheaper than my 0 a month for supplies I wil get it. I just don’t know what to get thanks for the help!

ANSWER:
I don’t know what health plans are offered by Walmart but you can find out, You need to contact each plan to determine which one would be best suited for you.

QUESTION:
name brand discount diabetes supplies?
My doctor says my blood sugar is a little high. I want to buy a home blood glucose monitor, lancing device, strips and lancets. What are the most inexpensive? Have you ever gotten an inaccurate one? Know of anyone that’s ever been misdiagnosed?

ANSWER:
misdiagnosis is improbable with diabetes! blood sugar that is “a little high” is most likely full blown diabetes. there is no such thing as “a little bit” diabetic! As for the least expensive glucometer, you will be better off to buy one that is going to have memory and be download-able by your doctor’s office. being able to look at your blood sugars as to time of day and such will be very helpful to your doctor in deciding on medications for you, if you need meds, and most diabetics do in time. Remember – you get what you pay for! I know cost is an issue for many people, but health is priceless! If you are only seeing your primary care physician for diabetes control, it may make no difeerence as to the brand of glucometer. ask the doc’s office if they have software to enalbe downloading meters. if not, you could just get a cheap meter and keep a log of blood sugars, including date and time of day, then take that log with you when you go to your doctor’s office for follow-up. if you are seeing an endocrinologist, ask what type meter they can download and if they have preference of brand. they may also be abel to GIVE you a meter. the meter companies probably give them meters to give to patients. their profit is made on selling the strips, so if you have their meter, they can sell you strips and make their profit. Inaccurate BGs can be caused by a number of things, mot commonly with proper coding, controls, and testing method – as in amount of blood on the strip, etc. diabetes is very controlable with the proper monitoring and treatment. Diet and exercise are the keys to control for any diabetic. Good luck!

QUESTION:
Cost of diabetes testing supplies?
I have gestational diabetes. My doctor called in a prescription to my pharmacy (Rite Aid) on Friday evening. The guy working there told me that Tricare wouldn’t cover any of the cost and Medicare (Part B) wouldn’t pay for it because my doctor didn’t give a “diagnostic code”. I asked how much it would cost without insurance. The guy said that he would call my doctor on Monday and see about either changing my prescription to something Tricare would cover or giving the diagnostic code so Medicare would cover it. I went back Saturday and today, and got the same answer.
I’m supposed to have the testing supplies by Monday, to take to my doctor/diabetes educator/nutritionist appointment in the afternoon.
I’m hoping that everything works out with my insurance so I won’t have to pay, but if not, I’ll have to pay out of pocket (if I can afford it).

ANSWER:
You should be able to get a meter for free from your doctor. Then plan on spending about a dollar per test strip.

I’ve heard that Wal Mart is a good place to go for inexpensive supplies. I haven’t tried it yet. I’ve been shopping at Rite Aid.

QUESTION:
where do you get your diabetes medical supplies from?

ANSWER:
The pharmacy or my doctor.

QUESTION:
How do I afford Diabetes supplies?
I’m a diabetic and its becoming increasingly difficult to afford my supplies. Companies are paying less and less and expecting employees to pay more and more for insurance coverage. Currently we pay 0 a month just to carry insurance. I just found out that the insurance coverage will only cover half of my cost for insulin per month. So I will be having to pay about 0 per month out of pocket JUST for the insulin. This doesn’t count my other supplies I need. I can’t afford this. I can’t even afford the 0. Are there any cheaper insurance plans out there that you can buy individually instead of through a company? Or are there ways to get help with medical supplies? I am desperate. Thank you for any help!

ANSWER:
You could contact insulin manufacturers, but I don’t believe you will be eligible for assistance since you have insurance. For the insulin you could check with your doctor to see if they have samples. For the other supplies, stores like Walmart and Target have inexpensive blood glucose monitors and strips that cost much less than brand name. Or, you can try buying strips on eBay. For lancets, you can use 1 lancet several times (I used to use only 1 per day). Instead of alcohol pads, just wash your hands with soap and water. For syringes, ask your doctor if you can use store brand or non-brand name ones. These will be less expensive. Hope this helps!!

QUESTION:
Type 1 diabetes supplies while overseas in Korea?
Recently I’ve wanted to change things up a bit in life and do something different – teach English in Korea. However, I am type 1 (juvenile) diabetic, and I’m not sure about the availability/cost/insurance coverage/insulin brands in Korea. Does anyone have any experience with this? Many websites about the insurance says that prescriptions are available, but I wasn’t sure how the insurance worked with a chronic disease like type 1 diabetes.
On that note, I’m still in the research stage and any insight – especially recommendations for schools in Seoul – would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

ANSWER:
I would consider these sources as a way to answer your question:

Your health insurance company will have information about type 1 diabetics residing in foreign countries and should have resources for you.

If your new endeavor is associated with the military than you will be able to secure your needed insulin at military installations.

You can also contact the South Korean consulate closest to you for information on how to obtain and order insulin for yourself…….They receive questions like this all the time.

Good luck

QUESTION:
Im looking for ways to get my diabetes supplies cheap if i cant afford them. HELP? im 17 goin on 18?
im 17 and in 10 months ill be 18. my bf is 18 and i have a part time job with two years of HS left. my parents are totally against me being with him so at 18 i am moving out. we’ve been together for 2 years. he’s looking for good work. i am just worried sick about having what i need medically. i kno he’ll try his best to take care of me but i would love to catch a break with my diabetes. ive lived with it since i was about 6 and i feel like it holds me back. i dont want it to hold me back from being with the one i love!!! please help us..
i am insulin dependent. i need to check my blood sugar at least 3 times daily at the VERY least and insulin as i need it.

ANSWER:
This question is confusing.
Diabetes can’t hold you back unless you let it.

I have a daughter who is a senior in college and had diabetes since she was 2.She is a second degree black belt in karate and lives away at college.Diabetes has never controlled her life.

If you need help with medications , especially insulin and test strips , talk to your doctor first.He/She may have samples to help you out.
Always make sure you have health insurance since it is essential in your life.

QUESTION:
Reusing diabetes supplies?
Just wondering if the diabetics on here use a new lancet every time you test your blood glucose? How about syringes? Will you use them more than once? If you do use lancets and/or syringes more than once, how long do you use them before switching to a new one?
Now Jim, I take the universal precautions class annually. I know in order for me to get hepatitis, I have to use a syringe or lancet that has blood with the hepatitis virus on it. Since I’m only reusing my OWN syringes or lancets, and I don’t have hepatitis virus, I cannot get it from myself.

ANSWER:
I guess according to the other answers, you would probably think I’m obsessive/compulsive. I use the lancet and needles only once. I’m a “new” diabetic and it still hurts w/ finger sticks and injections w/ new needles and lancets. I can’t imagine using the needles for up to a week. OUCH! But I guess it’s personal preference cuz the supplies are so expensive. between my meds and supplies I spend 5 a month! DOUBLE OUCH!

QUESTION:
diabetes supplies questions: please answer?
hii
how much are infusion sets?
> how many come in the pack? for both infusion sets and reservoirs
reservoirs?

how much is an insulin pump?

Btw I am in canada!!

ANSWER:
The Price of an Insulin Pump: 6800-7500 dollars Canadian or U.S. in the year 2008.

Infusion sets: About 15-20 dollars every 3 days for an infusion set.

Reservoirs (they hold the insulin) cost a pop.

QUESTION:
I just learned that i’ve got diabetes, what is the best place to get supplies without having to have insurance?

ANSWER:
My father has diabetes.

All i can say to you is this: PLease take care of yourself.

Eat fruits and veggies, exercise, and protect your mental health. I really think a natural diet is key. Rather then all these food filled with chemicals (which are hard on your liver and kidney) eat naturally. Raw when possible. You can totally turn this around, but its gonna require sacrifice!!!

The complications if you dont take care of your diabetes are really bad.

So do yourself and your family the courtesy of taking care of it.

For free supplies, I suggest you go to a free clinic. If they dont have it, they can help you get it.

If that doesnt work, go to church. They should help you especially if you are already a member. Thats what all that tithing is for anyway.

Finally, pharmeceutical companies have foundations that will give you your medicine free if you are selected, so you can also try for that.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You are aware so you have the opportunity to overcome this! You can do it! Be strong and put your health first

QUESTION:
how do I start a diabetes supply company?

ANSWER:
Hope this helps you get started

http://www.ehow.com/how_5636323_start-own-medical-supply-company.html

QUESTION:
Diabetes testing supplies?
Are there any HbA1C testers on the market today? How Much do they cost?

ANSWER:
I work as a pathology collector and we have hba1c finger prick test kits if you would like on monday i will find out who makes them and also if you are in australia i can send you a kit…but it needs to be tested at pathology lab.let me know in a email at yahoo

QUESTION:
I was just diagnosed with diabetes. Can anyone tell me where to go for help with diabetic supplies cheaply?
I was just diagnosed & put on GLUCOPHAGE. My hemaglobin A1C was 12.1 & averaged 317 over the past 3 months. I have no medical insurance & was hoping to get medical supplies as cheap as possible. I see the diabetic nurse for the first time next week (Wednesday). Thank you

ANSWER:
Good luck pal there is nothing cheap about diabetes everybody has prices jacked up to get into your pocket. However that being said sometimes the Dr. has samples of medicines that he can provide and your diabetic nurse is a good source for meters, test strips, and lansettes. As for being newly dianosed you can turn diabetes around and get off of all meds and supplys, here are two words that you should have ingrained in you mind. DIET & EXERCIZE so important, it will be a lifetime commentment but diabetes II or adult onset diabetes or whatever they are calling it these days can be turned around with these two lifestyle changes. Educate yourself about your diesese. There are several good websighs WebMD, Veriatus (sp) The Joylisn clinic, and I am sure that there are more. Good luck I know this is more then you ask but hope you find it useful

QUESTION:
mail order diabetes testing supplies?

ANSWER:
Visit these sites I think you will get what you are looking

http://www.americandiabetes.com/productinfo.htm

http://www.northcoastmed.com/google/google_landing.htm

http://www.healiohealth.com/Diabetic_Testing_Supplies.asp

For diabetes related information

http://www.reddiabetes.com

QUESTION:
How can I get affordable diabetic supplies and insulin as an American ex-pat living in Germany?
I am 26 and I have Type 1 diabetes. I am not a student, I am not married, and I am a musician, so I do not have the advantage of steady work. I have health insurance in the states, but it does not work in Europe. Due to German laws reagarding work permits, I had to buy cheap European health insurance that does not cover pre-existing conditions (aka diabetes). Currently I am busing supplies and insulin in the states and having it shipped here, but that is very expensive. Any suggestions and/or advice is welcomed! Please help!

ANSWER:
U really have to find a health insurace in Germany. When you do not have it will be also the same price to got without healt insurance to the doctor (once somebody looked my teeth, and after she said that it coast 34 euro… and she did not do with anything just looked around and I had an insurance!!!!). I think after every visit you have to pay 10 euros, and keep everything (invoice and others) and send to the agency where you have your insurance. But that is not sure. I made it so, but I think every agency has differet methods.
Good luck!

QUESTION:
What is the name of the company Steve Renouf set up with his wife supplying diabetes related products?

ANSWER:
Diabete-Ezy

http://www.diabete-ezy.com/index.php?main/home&_form_id=2ee9dd10

QUESTION:
who is the best medicare diabetes supply company for people on the pump?

ANSWER:
The best insulin pump and biggest supplier in the world is Medtronic Diabetes or formally known as Minimed.

Plus, they are the only ones w/ the technology of the Continuous Glucose Monitor that reads your blood every 5 minutes to give you a 288 reading graph for the day. Medtronic is by far the leader in insulin pump therapy.

QUESTION:
Do you need help paying for your diabetic supplies?
WHERE CAN I FIND LOW COST DIABETIC SUPPLIES?

Abbott Diabetes Care Patient Assistance Program
This program assists financially disadvantaged individuals who meet certain income criteria. The Abbott Diabetes Care application can be found at www.rxassist.org/providers/documents/AbbottDiabetesCare_000.pdf or call 866-224-8887.

Bayer
Bayer offers a one time startup/upgrade (from other Bayer meters) kit–CONTOUR® Blood Glucose Monitoring System that includes a small number of strips. Advocates consider the price of the strips to be expensive for individuals without health insurance.

IPump.org, Inc. (www.ipump.org) offers limited reimbursement for diabetes medications, supplies, and insulin to persons who qualify under their “ERMA” (Emergency Request for Medical Assistance) program.
Read this here:
e http://www.rxassist.org/providers/documents/Lowcostdiabeticandothe-1.doc.
What do you think?

ANSWER:
Always check with your provider, if not then see if there’s a community clinic, and then see what the state can cover.

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
what could be making my sugar levels so high besides diabetes?
last winter i was diagnosed with hep a and since then i have had problems with stomach acid and may have a peptic ulcer… since then however, my doctor had a lot of blood work done for me and noticed my sugar levels were high. she gave me a meter to check my blood sugar randomly every day, and it has never been normal! it has been everywhere from 140-280! i don’t have any other symptoms of diabetes and my stomach problems are not nearly as bad as before… what could this mean?

ANSWER:
I agree with Blazer.No need to wait till your blood sugars get higher.Make an appointment with the doctor.Record fasting blood sugars(morning blood sugar before eating).Record blood sugars taken one and half to two hours after meals.Your doc can use this info.Early treatment lessens risks of circulatory,kidney,eye,cardiac,nerve pain problems.

QUESTION:
Can blood sugar levels be high without having diabetes?
I’ve heard that blood sugar levels don’t go high if you don’t have diabetes.

Today I did my blood sugar randomly and it was 6.9. The other day it was 11 I think… Isn’t that high? The right level is in the 5 range isn’t it? I had eaten fatty foods a few hrs before taking it.

I’m 21 in a few days and overweight. Practically everyone has diabetes in my family including my mum.

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
What is considered high for high sugar levels for diabetes?

ANSWER:
“Sugar levels” refers to the amount of glucose in the blood, from the food we eat, and what’s naturally formed and stored inside the body. The amount of glucose that can be processed is different for each individual, so it’s best if you and a health care professional talk about your “blood sugar level” range so you know exactly what’s “high” for you. Then, take your levels each day with a good glucose meter. You can find out how to get one for free at my source link.

Good luck!

QUESTION:
DIABETES, How Reduce high sugar levels?
I know the consequenses of high levels of sugar, but the big question is how change my diet and my family diet since now on, is not only a diet is my all style of life, anyone can help me about how I can be success, thanks.

ANSWER:
Talk to your doctor or healthcare team about changing your diet. Also, you might want to ask your doctor to recommend / refer you to a registered dietician to help you come up with a more individualized meal plan.
Another route you could take would be to talk to your local health department. Changes are there is someone, (a health educator or a dietician), on staff there that could offer his / her services. (Probably at a lower cost to you, depending on your income.)

Some places to start:
– Eat a balanced, healthy diet. Avoid high sugar foods, high fat foods, and high carb foods. Also, pay special attention to your portion sizes. Sometimes, eating large amounts of even the healthiest foods can be harmful.
– Get exercise. Get out and move around. Work with your doctor or a personal trainer to assist with putting together a specific exercise plan / schedule just for your needs.
– Take your medications as prescribed. Try to take them at the same time (or around the same time frame) in order to maintain a consistent level within your bloodstream.
– Monitor your blood sugars on your own at home.

As always, work with your doctor / healthcare team to ensure that you are recieving the best treatment that is most suitable for your unique condition. Diabetes is different for each person that has it. The treatment plan that your doctor can recommend is probably your best bet for making the changes you need to make in your lifestyle.

Good luck….

QUESTION:
Diabetes makes sugar levels abnormally high, but do they go low too?
a diabetic untreated by insulin neglected or forgot to eat enough would their sugar levels drop at any stage? to a normal level or hypo level?
or if a diabetic ate unbelievably healthy very low carb no sugar sort of diet?

ANSWER:
It depends. Type 2 diabetics, who are not on insulin, rarely go too low. It does happen, though. But no one has been able to tell me why. I’m never been below 70 in my four year history with the disease, so hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a non issue with me.

Type 1s (insulin dependent) can and do have low blood sugar episodes when they take too much insulin or don’t eat enough to compensate for the amount they took. It’s a balancing act to say the least. In the scenario you present, where they don’t take insulin, the chances of having a low blood sugar episode is highly unlikely unless the patient has insulinoma, which is pretty rare. In most cases, given that scenario, their blood sugar will not come down… it could even go up because the liver can still convert glycogen into glucose even though no food has been consumed.

Lots of variables, no absolutes.

QUESTION:
my dad has diabetes type 2,is sugar levels continue to be high(21)although he is taking 3 diabetic tablets?
he also has high blood pressure and high cholestorol,his doctor said today there isnt any more mediction he can give,despite his high sugar level he is showing no signs of any symptoms that his diabetes is out of control,he has been diabetic for 5 years and has been properly diagnosed.Would any other ilnesses make things like sugar etc stay high apart from diabetes?? thanx
i am in the uk so would the drugs you are talking about be available over here? i do know my dad does not eat anything sweet etc and does stick to his diet,he has lost 10lb in a month,he would hate having to use insulin.

ANSWER:
I am in a similar situation. Sometimes there is a lot of trial and error in finding the right combination of medicines. Have him ask his doctor about Byetta. It is a new medication that is made from the saliva of Gila Monster lizards (no kidding!) I take it twice a day and my blood sugar is
now perfect. It also makes you lose weight. I’ve lost over 25 pounds in 3 months on it. It makes you feel full so you eat less. It is worth a shot.

QUESTION:
What diseases or conditions can cause high blood sugar levels other than diabetes?

QUESTION:
high blood sugar levels diabetes?
i had a blood test recently and the nurse told me to see my doctor. said my “blood glucose levels” were 289.

how high is that???

i remember a year and a half ago…the numbers were 106 and the doctor at that time said i was “pre-pre diabetic”.

the test to determine both was a fasting before the blood test.

ANSWER:
That’s very high (289). You don’t want your blood sugar to go over 200 at any given time, even right after eating. With a fasting score of 289, your very likely diabetic. Some doctor’s don’t even bother to do a follow up test fasting or non if your over 200.

Your doctor is going tell you that your diabetic. It’s not the end of the world and it’s not the end of a normal life either. However, to keep in good health, your going to want to make some lifestyle changes. Your doctor can be quite helpful and point you in the right direction.

Diabetics is very manageable. Again, it requires lifestyle changes though, such as first, avoiding sugar and cutting down simple carbs in your diet. Getting regular physical activity. All those things will help lower your blood sugar. Also, your doctor is going to advise you that you monitor your blood sugar daily and may prescribe some medicines to help your sugar levels.

Hang in there, you can get control of your blood sugar and led a very happy, productive, and healthy life.

QUESTION:
Can high sugar levels make someone very friendly, enthusiastic, optimistic & happier than they were before?
they had the high sugar level (diabetes)

ANSWER:
Yes, it can and I know it because I’ve got diabetes!

QUESTION:
High Sugar Levels [Possible diabetes]?
Hey Guys.

I went to the doctors yesterday for a blood test, but the day before i went to the doctor to see about;

Tiredness.
Lack of energy.
Eye sight-playing up.
Mood swings.

The doctor tested my blood levels and it came up as a 12.0 blood level which was high.
[This is without having anything at all to eat and nothing to drink other than water]

Anyway, she thinks it’s a diabetic issue, but i wont have my blood test for a few days, is there anything I could do to make myself feel more normal? e.g. more awake and such, because it’s not so easy to work falling asleep! would appreciate any advice at all, thanks Altot.

Have a good day.
-Ronnie.

ANSWER:
It is a diabetic issue.
Normal Fasting Blood Sugar
A normal fasting blood sugar (which is also the blood sugar a normal person will see right before a meal) is:

83 mg/dl (4.6 mmol/L) or less.

Many normal people have fasting blood sugars in the mid and high 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/L) range.

Though most doctors will tell you any fasting blood sugar under 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) is “normal”, there are several studies that suggest that testing with a fasting blood sugar in the mid 90 mg/dl (5 mmol/L) range often predicts diabetes that is diagnosed a decade later

This is a lifetime disease that need constant and healthy lifestyle. So you might as well start today.
There are 4 important parts to controling diabetes.
1) Knowledge – learn all you can. Start with this website: http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/16422495.php
2) Meds. – Metformin to start. Never , ever take Actos or Avandia. They will damage your bones , cause heart problems and last but not least cause bone stem cells to mutate to fat cell. So weight gain will happen.
3) Diet- http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm This is a low carb diet that you will not have to count carbs. It’s very easy to understand. About 1 week and you will know what to eat and what not.Great for the whole family. Really not a diet but a healthy lifestyle.
4) EXERCISE – Very important if you are type 2 diabetic. Walking is fine but Nordic walking is great. Google it.

If you start the diet and exercise , you will start to feel better almost immediately. Go for it. Today.
The sooner you start to treat this disease the better the outcome. You want glucose levels in the 5′s. And remember this is not a weekend deal , it’s for life !!Much damage has already been caused by high sugar levels.

Good luck to you

Tin

QUESTION:
diabetes type 2, high sugar levels?
My husband has diabetes type 2, and just took his reading and it was 425,what can we do to lower, we know what to do when its very low, but not sure about when its that high.

ANSWER:
What type of medication does he take? If insulin – he needs a bit more. Otherwise, time and water will help. He should test for ketones if he has been over 250 for several hours.
Speak to your doc in the morning about this, particularly if he goes way high like this often.

QUESTION:
Can undetected high levels of blood sugar in a pregnancy cause Down Syndrome in a fetus in the womb?
I am almost 17 weeks pregnant and won’t see my doctor until next week. I am concerned that since I have recently been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes that my sugar levels could have been high long before now. I am also having to have a level 2 ultrasound with a specialist because they think my baby may have a marker for down syndrome.

I would appreciate any responses. Thank you.

ANSWER:
as others have said Down’s Syndrome is genetic and won’t be caused by blood sugar levels…

they did an ultrasound on me with my last son…and said he had a “thick neck” which could be a sign of Down’s Syndrome.. they wanted me to do an amnio to see if he had it…but as i have had three miscarriages before..i refused…

when he was born he was perfectly healthy.. he is now 11 and in the gifted program in school……

so try not to get too worked up yet…is all i am saying…
i worried my whole rest of my pregnancy…knowing that i would love and care for my baby no matter what…. but like i said he was born healthy…. thank goodness….

QUESTION:
why would certain people have a tendency towards high blood sugar and diabetes?
i am very active and have a decent weight but i have now a high blood sugar level (or pre-diabetes). is this due primarily to genetics? I have some native american in my background which i know is a high risk group.

QUESTION:
If you have diabetes mellitus, why do you have high sugar levels before and after meals?

ANSWER:
Your body does not produce enough insulin (a chemical in the pancreas which converts sugar to usable energy) so the sugar and carbohydrates (which break down into sugars) levels in the blood are high

QUESTION:
were piss ants used to detect high sugar levels in urine? (diabetes)?
were piss ants used to detect diabetes in urine?

ANSWER:
In ancient times – Indians would call diabetes “sweet urine disease” because they tested for it by observing whether ants were attracted to the persons urine or not.

Here is a web page that has a lot more information on the history of diabetes.

Good luck to you.

QUESTION:
Which is worse in diabetes, high or low blood sugar levels?

ANSWER:
Both are VERY Dangerous. Low blood sugar gets out of control faster and can be corrected and High Blood Sugar is a slow process and if we dont catch it or cannot controll it, we become ill and fall into Diabetic Ketoacidosis and need to go to the hospital.
Its also different for different Diabetics. I Find High Blood Sugar the most dangerous because its normally due to an infection and then it takes over my body and no matter how much extra insulin or what i do to try and stop it, it dosn’t work and by the time i give up trying, i have all the symptoms of diabetes again; excessive thirst, going to the toilet, dry mouth, hunger, vomiting (in the later stages). I’ve been told to go to A&E when i begin vomiting, because after this i spiral out of control and get a horrible pain in my stomach or back where the ketones (normally by this time they are about +5 – +6) are really starting to damage me somewhat by then. I’ve Had this 7 times in the last 2 years (2 years in september), been in pain 3 times, once due to blood infection, once due to bladder infection, once due to stess, once due to not looking after myself (the first time it happened), and the rest are where i have had relapses a couple of days after being discharged from the hospital. I’ve been in ICU/ITU Twice. So, for me its high blood sugar, but a lot of diabetics out there struggle with keeping their sugar up.
Hope this helps.

QUESTION:
Does having high blood sugar levels necessarily mean you have diabetes? HELP!?!?!?
My 65 year old Dad just told me that his doctor informed him that he has high blood sugar levels and may have diabetes. I am so worried that this is true. I am not that familiar with blood sugar levels, so how would you know? They are going to do another test to be sure. Does anyone know if there is a chance that he doesnt have diabetes, or maybe just pre-diabetes? I know that having diabetes can be potentially life-threatning at times, so I am so worried for him as I love him so much and want him around to see his grand-daughter grow up. I lost my mom a few years ago and i want to do whatever I can to keep my dad healthy. Is there any way to get rid of diabetes once you get it? How do you treat it? What can I do to help him? Please help, I am so worried I cant function right now…

ANSWER:
1. If he has high blood sugar levels after not eating for 2 hours then he probably has diabetes.
2. You can never get rid of diabetes
3. Injections if type 1 but if he’s 65 then it will be type 2 so it could be injections but probably tablets or diet.
4 Comfort him although if he controls it well it isn’t life threatening

QUESTION:
Since people with diabetes have higher blood sugar levels shouldnt they have an advantage when excersizing?
Wouldnt more avaialable blood glucose mean that you can excersize longer without “hitting the wall”?

ANSWER:
When you have high blood sugar levels(without availible insulin) exercising just makes it go higher, which, in type 1 diabetes can lead to ketones/fat burning/ketoacidosis/further dehydration. If you have type 2, its not good either. Higher bgs in general means that you’ll pee more and get dehydrated quicker + have no energy to exercise anyway. Its recommended not to exercise if your bg is over 240, and def.not to exercise if you’re sick and have ketones. I feel best when my own blood sugar is between 100-200 when exercising, not going up or down.

QUESTION:
What treatment should be given to a person with a high blood sugar level (diabetes)?

ANSWER:
Flower, Insulin for type 1 diabetic , Period.

For type 2 I have found that the following works wonders. My fasting is 96 and my HBA1C is 5.2.

There are 4 key steps to controlling glucose levels :

1) EXERCISE- Walking is fine but Nordic Walking is Great. Exercise also lowers Glucose levels , lowers Cholesterol and lowers Blood Pressure. Google it.Exercise is Non-Negotiable !!!Thats why it is Number 1 on the list.
2) Knowledge- http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/index.ph… This is a great site for info
diet- A low carb diet is in order. I can’t count carbs so I use Mendosa’s Glycemic Index Diet. Great for the whole family. http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm
3) Meds. Metformin to start. Never , ever take Actos or Avandia. They may kill you. Bone fractures, heart problems and what diabetics really don’t need is that they change Bone Stem Cells to Fat Cells.
4) Diet- A low carb diet is in order. I can’t count carbs so I use Mendosa’s Glycemic Index Diet. Great for the whole family. http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm

A low carb , Low glycemic index and load are a must. Also don’t forget the exercise.

Take care

TIN

QUESTION:
Why is that diabetes is caused by high levels of sugar?

ANSWER:
Diabetes is not caused by high sugar. A person is diagnosed diabetic when you have abnormally high levels in your blood because your body can’t metabolize the sugar (glucose)you do have effectively. When you eat your body breaks down the food, and glucose is absorbed into your cells by something called insulin. If your body is not producing enough insulin or if the insulin you have is ineffective the glucose stays in your blood stream and your cells starve. To compensate your body breaksdown fat. There are two types of diabetics. Type 1 where the pancreas is not making any insulin. Most children and young adults get this type. It said to be cause by a virus that kill insulin producing cells in the pancreas called the islet cells. These patients must take insulin shots because if they take it in a pill the stomach would absorb the insulin and it wouldn’t work. Type 2 is where you have insulin in your body but you are either not making enough or your body isn’t using it effectively. These people can take oral diabetic medication because it is not insulin. It helps the pancreas to produce more insulin or help the insulin get the glucose in the cell. Diet and exercise help because your not adding glucose that your body doesn’t need and helps you burn off excess and sometimes will force the the glucose into the cell. Complications from diabetes include blindness, kidney disease, slow healing wounds and loss of feeling to extremities (also called neuropathy). Symptoms include increased thirst, increased hunger (remember your cells are starving) and increased urination. You can also lose weight because the body is breaking down fat for energy. This mostly happens in Type 1. I hope this helps. Remember you can’t cause diabetes by eating too much candy but if you are diabetic you can be adding to the problem if you do. Only a blood test and your doctor can diagnosis diabetes.

QUESTION:
What do you call someone with high sugar levels?
What is the medical situation where somebody has high blood sugar levels? Usually happens with old people, and it is NOT diabetes! Thank youuuu

ANSWER:
Hyperglycemic means abnormally high levels of blood glucose.

Please note that the phrase “blood sugar” is often used synonomously with “blood glucose”.

QUESTION:
Why would a type 2 diabetes blood sugar level be high in the morning but way lower throughout the day?
My grandpa will wake up in the morning and find his blood sugar level (which I believe is what he measures with type 2 diabetes, correct me if im wrong) to be high, like 150-160, but he will go to his job which he does in the morning and comes home around 1pm most days, and when he measures it it is down to 110-130 already.
He has been continuing a very good diet full of fiber and fruit and vegetables, and doesn’t eat late night snacks anymore(which makes this more confusing) but from day 1 he has had this problem.
He asked his doctor and he seemed clueless. Anyone know anything about this?!?!?
sorry if i mixed up the details :/ i dont know what kind of doctor hes seeing or anything

ANSWER:
Yes, he would be checking his blood sugar every morning and hopefully before each meal. He should also check at 1 hour and 2 hours after supper at least once a week. This will tell him how well his body is handling what he eats and if he needs to make any changes to his diet or meds.

This higher morning blood sugar is called Dawn Phenomenon. The solution for most diabetics is to have a small snack of about 15 carbs from whole grain, with some fat or protien. This reduces the amount of sugar that the liver releases overnight, resulting in a better reading in the morning.

A good bedtime snack is one slice of WHOLE GRAIN bread with peanut butter (the type with NO sugar added). Or if he doesn’t like peanut butter, he could add a slice of cold chicken or roast beef, or some low fat cream cheese.

His blood sugar in the morning should be between 110 and 135, so its a bit high right now. Having a small bedtime snack should help bring it down. I know it seems unlikely, but it works.

IF he has any history of heart disease or is at risk, this fasting level will give him a better chance of surviving a heart attack, at least that’s what my endocrinologist told me just this week. Having really tight blood sugar control is a bit risky when you are older or having heart related issues.

Tight blood sugar means having a fasting level from 90 to 120. He shouldn’t be aiming this low. Right now he’s not doing that badly and the snack at bedtime should help.

If he was a much younger man, his morning blood sugar goal should be between 5.0 and 120, but given his age, that’s just too low. Recent studies show that having a more moderate approach to blood sugar reduces the risks for older people and increased the survival rate (in both studies).

As a diabetic, he needs to be very careful what fruits he eats and how much. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries are good choices as they are high in fiber and low in carbs compared to other fruits.

He should stay away from things like dried fruits such as raisins, figs and dates. Bananas are also quite high in sugar and not a good choice. He should also avoid canned fruits that have syrup. Look for fruits canned in water or juice, and drain off the juice, as its full of sugars, whether natural or added. Fresh fruit or fruit frozen with NO added sugar is far better than canned.

You can look up the carb content of fruits, veggies and other foods online at

http://www.calorieking.com/

http://www.thedailyplate.com/

http://www.thedailyplate.com/

and of course, if he’s using frozen or canned fruit, the carbs are listed on the packaging. Make sure he’s using the serving size suggested and not more.

Your grandpa might have better results if he tests his blood sugar more often, and keeps a food log for a little while. If you want a testing guide you can print off, you can download a PDF here..

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/flyer.pdf

QUESTION:
Can type 2 diabetes be diagnosed only by the blood sugar levels?
If there is no other sign exept high blood sugar levels, can that be type 2 diabetes? Is it necesary to have some clinical symptoms at all in such case?

ANSWER:
I had no clinical symptoms. I’m not and wasn’t overweight and showed no symptoms whatsoever.

I was diagnosed only because I took a blood sugar test just to be taking one. Imagine my surprise when the numbers came out insanely high.

So yes, you may not show symptoms in the beginning and still be diabetic. Please don’t wait for symptoms to manifest themselves before you go see a doctor. The consequences are not good.

QUESTION:
Doctors and Nurses: How high is too high for blood sugar levels?
A year ago, I was hospitalized for several days in intensive care with a blood sugar level of 699. Prior to that, my doctor had been monitoring my levels because of family history, but it came on like lightning. I survived, and have been successfully maintaining my Type 2 diabetes since. My question: With that high level, how close was I to death? I need to know to pass this dire information on to my children and others who may be likely candidates. Please be frank, for my sake and theirs.
Thank you for the answers received so far. Just to add my current info, I’ve adjusted my diet and I exercise more. I have NEVER maintained a diet of “garbage”. My family’s history predestined this condition, which is why my doctor and I have been monitoring my levels for several years. My normal levels now are between 105 and 115. I just would like to know what levels are life-threatening in a crisis, as happened to me.

ANSWER:
I am not a nurse or doctor,however,I have been diabetic (type 1) for 36 years. A normal blood sugar reading is between 80 and 120, At 190 sugar spills into your urine. That’s when you become thirsty, beyond belief, and start to dehydrate. You will know every washroom in the city because of constant urination. I have been hospilized w/ a reading of about 1200. That was with taking insulin. I had dental work done, and the infection got the best of me. Your reading shows you that your sugar is high, but it is the way the sugar affects your organs that can be fatal. When I had my episode, my potassium levels were screaming high,my kidneys had shut down,I lost the vision in one eye from such a low blood pressure. I was in a coma for a day before anyone found me. I remained so for an additional five days. During that time I suffered a heart attack. Diabetes can be hard to control, even with insulin. Sometimes it becomes more complicated because of the insulin. If you can manage it without..DO IT! Get on a diet recommended by a dietition, get yourself a glucometer to check your sugar at home frequently. Exercise. Show your family the way to deal with it should they eventually have it. Your circulation is compromised, affecting your legs and feet, eyes, and kidneys, skin. High sugar means you will have a harder time fighting infections. Your teeth and gums will need extra care-and you are the only one that can do it. Don’t become blind or on dialysis because you can’t pass up a candy bar or a chunk of cake. your family needs you, and when you look at their smiling faces, you’ll be grateful to be with them. I know I am telling you scary things. I wish someone had really explained to me HOW these things could come to pass. It’s because it affects the smallest,tiniest blood vessels in your body. You don’t always “just die” from diabetes. You could live a long time with what it can do to you. Good luck to you. I would be so proud of you if you could turn this thing around to become incredibley healthy. This would be the time to do that. If you see that your sugar is rising,for no apparent reason, such as large meal,eating fruit,etc.,call your doctor. It may be from a sinus infection, earache,cut that won’t heal. The infection raises your sugar, your sugar makes it difficult to get rid of the infection. And so it goes..round and round. Don’t wait for a huge spike in your numbers.

QUESTION:
Man with diabetes usually has low blood sugar but now high?
What does it mean when someone who has diabetes normally has to keep track of low blood sugar levels but is now experience high blood sugar levels all of a sudden?

Should someone be concerned if this happens to them? If so, what can turn this around?

ANSWER:
It’s difficult to give you a precise answer, my friend, based on the information that you haven’t given, but all diabetics need to test to make sure they’re not experiencing a hypoglycemic event (low blood sugar).

Reasons for it suddenly registering as hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) include an underlying infection; missing out on their medication (I’m assuming here that they do take medication, though that is not always the case.); exercising, but not long or hard enough to cause blood sugar levels to fall; progression of the diabetes. (Type 1 diabetics often go through a “honeymoon period” or “honeymoon phase” where they still have working beta cells in their pancreas. Type 2 diabetics frequently go through periods where their medication needs to be reviewed. This is because the beta cells (islets of Langerhans) of the pancreas begin to die off due to being overworked for years.)

In either case, this is something that should be brought to the attention of the person’s doctor.

QUESTION:
What is a high level of blood sugar during gestational diabetes to have big babies?
I am consistently checking my blood sugar and it is usually 95-105 in the morning. I am usually 115-160 after eating. I am wondering if these levels are too high and will cause me to deliver a large baby? I do not take insulin or diabetic pills, so far I have been diet controlled. What are high levels that WILL cause you to have a large baby.

ANSWER:
Yes, you’re too high. Based on your numbers, I would say that you’re not diet controlled. You need to stop the refined carbs, and switch to more wholesome natural foods if you want the healthiest possible baby. You should also include some daily exercise and bring your weight down. Instead of concerning yourself with numbers that might cause a large baby, you should be shooting for normal blood sugar levels and let the baby develop naturally.

QUESTION:
Having diabetes Type 1 is there an herb to help control high sugar levels..?
I know herbs are natural and I wanted to know which ones for type 1 would benifit..

ANSWER:
Unfortunately, no. The only way to control sugar levels is as has been explained to you by your physician and dietician.

QUESTION:
how high can blood sugar levels get with diabetes?

ANSWER:
I’m a lab tech and I’ve seen glucose levels over a thousand. I think most patients would be unconscious at this level but some people who develop diabetic ketoacidosis frequently can remain coherent with such an elevated blood glucose.

QUESTION:
Is this glucose/blood sugar level high enough to be at rick for diabetes?
I just got a blood test done for my anemia but they also told be my blood sugar is high.
it’s an AVERAGE of 6.6mmol/L, i think that’s 119mg/dl… i think

Am i at risk?

ANSWER:
Normal Fasting Blood Sugar
A normal fasting blood sugar (which is also the blood sugar a normal person will see right before a meal) is:

83 mg/dl (4.6 mmol/L) or less.

Many normal people have fasting blood sugars in the mid and high 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/L) range.

Though most doctors will tell you any fasting blood sugar under 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) is “normal”, there are several studies that suggest that testing with a fasting blood sugar in the mid 90 mg/dl (5 mmol/L) range often predicts diabetes that is diagnosed a decade later.
Post-Meal Blood Sugar (Postprandial)
Independent of what they eat, the blood sugar of a truly normal person is:

Under 120 mg/dl (6.6 mmol/L) one or two hours after a meal.

Most normal people are under 100 mg/dl (5.5 mmol/L) two hours after eating.
A1c
A truly normal A1c is between 4.6% and 5.4%

A1cs are not as good a measure of actual blood sugar control in individuals as they are for groups. An A1c of 5.1% maps to an average blood sugar of 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) or less when group statistics are analyzed, but normal variations in how our red blood cells work make the A1cs of truly normal individuals fall into a wider range.

Some people’s A1cs are always a bit higher than their measured blood sugars would predict. Some are always lower. NOTE: If you are anemic your A1c will read much lower than your actual blood sugars and the resulting A1c is not a useful gauge of your actual blood sugar control.

Yes . High. You need to worry. Maybe start on a Low glycemic Index diet and start to exercise.

Tin

QUESTION:
Question on diabetes blood sugar levels -?
My cousin (46 yr old Male) has had type 2 diabetes for many years now, probably 15-20 possibly. He said his blood sugar level from the test readings always shows 205-210, sometimes spiking higher after a bad meal, into the upper 200′s. He said it reads in the low 200′s no matter if he takes his “diabetes medication” (pills he is on) or not. Is this bad long term? Is he risking bad side effects running blood sugar levels this high constantly? If so, I am wondering why the doctors haven’t put him on insulin injections by now? Maybe steady readings in the 200′s is ok to live with long term, I don’t know.
It worries me because he’s been going like this for many years now – I notice he zones out sometimes, almost like he is comatose or can’t hear you talking to him, like he zones out – he told me that a couple times over the last few years, he actually had an occasional incident where he tried to talk or move or do something, but its like he was in slow motion or frozen, and couldn’t react, or talk, or move properly. I didn’t really understand it but it sounded pretty darn scarey. I do notice he seems to ‘zone out’ alot at home in his living room, he will lay down or sit in the recliner with his eyes open, say staring at the tv, but its almost like he is NOT watching it really, or not hearing it – sometimes I will say “Jeez I never knew this or that” after something was on the TV in front of us, and he’ll say “What, what are you talking about”. I used to think he as just not that bright, but now I am starting to think he is spacing out from long term high sugar levels. What will be the

ANSWER:
No it’s not OK. Readings like that will lead to all the nasty diabetic complications.

It is not uncommon for Type 2s to need insulin. Using insulin is not a sign of failure. Insulin is the only treatment that is guaranteed to lower blood sugar. But many people are afraid of it. Don’t be. Insulin is your friend. Use it wisely and it will help to keep blood sugar at a non-diabetic level.

QUESTION:
does anyone know if there is any research being done for dogs detecting low or high sugar level in diabetes?

QUESTION:
i have been dianosed type 2 diabetes for the last year my fasting sugar levels are still high should i be?
testing my own sugar levels by means of pricking my fingers and using a meter

ANSWER:
Yes, all people with diabetes need to test their sugar on a regular basis.
Get to an endocrinologist and figure out how to deal with this.
I wish you luck. You can do it !

QUESTION:
I do not have diabetes, however occasionally my blood sugar levels are high. What do I do?
Other symptoms I have are frequent urination and I am extremely thirsty. My heart feels like it is racing and I am exhausted and shaky. Is there something i can eat or drink to relieve these symptoms? Not really sure what triggers this, and it happens only once/twice a month. Any ideas?
Ok to answer “How do I know….” A friend of mine suggested to take a glucose test. I did a finger prick after fasting ( i took it when i got up with out anything to eat or drink for at least 9 hours) blood sugar read 183. That was last month. symptoms lasted all day and half of the next day, by noon they were gone. Same sypmtoms happened yesterday so i re-pricked my finger and it read 153 at 9am around 5pm it read 167. and this morning it read 185. By 2 pm today i felt fine. And still tonight i feel ok. It is very strange, thought maybe there was something to do to not feel so bad during that time frame. I usually lay down but i didnt have the chance yesterday (4 children running around) I am really tired today, my body is sore like i worked out real hard. But other wise feel pretty normal tonight. Just wish i could do something that would help during that time frame.

ANSWER:
Sandra , you know that you are diabetic and are in denial. You had two readings over 126. Definately diabetic.

Normal Fasting Blood Sugar
A normal fasting blood sugar (which is also the blood sugar a normal person will see right before a meal) is:

83 mg/dl (4.6 mmol/L) or less.

Many normal people have fasting blood sugars in the mid and high 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/L) range.

Though most doctors will tell you any fasting blood sugar under 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) is “normal”, there are several studies that suggest that testing with a fasting blood sugar in the mid 90 mg/dl (5 mmol/L) range often predicts diabetes that is diagnosed a decade later.
Post-Meal Blood Sugar (Postprandial)
Independent of what they eat, the blood sugar of a truly normal person is:

Under 120 mg/dl (6.6 mmol/L) one or two hours after a meal.

Most normal people are under 100 mg/dl (5.5 mmol/L) two hours after eating.

And now you know .
There are 4 key steps to controlling glucose levels :

1) EXERCISE- Walking is fine but Nordic Walking is Great. Exercise also lowers Glucose levels , lowers Cholesterol and lowers Blood Pressure. Google it.Exercise is Non-Negotiable !!!Thats why it is Number 1 on the list.
2) Knowledge- http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/index.ph… This is a great site for info
3) Meds. Metformin to start. Never , ever take Actos or Avandia. They may kill you. Bone fractures, heart problems and what diabetics really don’t need is that they change Bone Stem Cells to Fat Cells.Also never ever take Onglyza or Januvia . They can can inhibit the bodys immune system and let cancer spread.
4) Diet- A low carb diet is in order. I can’t count carbs so I use Mendosa’s Glycemic Index Diet. Great for the whole family. http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm

And remember this is for life.
First denial , then anger then depression or all three at the same time . And finnally , Maybe Accecptance.!!!!

You Take care
Don’t forget the exercise everyday

TIN

QUESTION:
I have type 2 diabetes and take oral meds, how do i lower sugar levels when they get too high?
Lately i have been having trouble regulating my sugar levels and my doc can’t see me til the end of the month. I take my meds faithfully and try to follow my diet, but i still get elevated levels. Is there something i can do to lower my levels quickly? Is there something i can eat or drink that will help?

ANSWER:
Hi~
Taking a brisk walk always lowers my BG immediately. The longer I walk, the lower it goes. Other exercises might help too. However, there is no “magic bullet” that will bring BG down. There is absolutely no scientific proof that any one ingredient does. Rather, it is your diet and exercise (and meds if taken) combined with it that lowers your BG. If after using a particular ingredient your BG falls, it is because your body is finally able to produce enough insulin to open up your cells to receive the excess BG. Time alone will do that unless you produce no insulin at all. Your problem is excess BG that is causing the elevated levels — it’s as simple as that. And the solution is simple… It’s just not easy.

So what can you do to bring your levels down on a regular basis if it’s not easy? Get good advice, encouragement, and support to help you. I have a group called Overcoming Diabetes Naturally designed to do just that and you are welcomed to come check it out at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/overcomingdiabetesnaturally/
to see if it might be helpful to you.

From what you said, I get the impression that you are having a tough time with the diet (“I TRY to follow my diet”). That’s so understandable. Changing habits is one of the hardest things for us to do. Food gives us such pleasure and comfort. My group helps one another get back on track with tips and techniques for exercising and eating right that have worked for us. We all slip from time to time and even take a break on a special occasion. Generally, this okay and we can get right back on. But, getting more active (doesn’t have to be gym style exercises, just activity) and changing our diets to bring it in line with what our bodies truly need instead of what we have whims for, is the real down-to-earth solution. I’d like to see you succeed. A lot of my group have gotten their BG down to normal (including me in about 3 months with no meds) with just diet and exercise. But we all have the ups and downs and we are there for each other to pull us through. Good luck and hang in there.

Gloria
Overcoming Diabetes Naturally – A place to find advice, encouragement, and support

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/overcomingdiabetesnaturally/

QUESTION:
if diabetes is a high blood sugar level through hyperglycemia?
what condition do you have if your blood sugar level is low?

ANSWER:
Hypoglycaemia is a condition where the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood drops below a certain point – about 3.0mmol/l.

This causes a number of symptoms such as dizziness, sweating and fatigue that usually go away 10 to 15 minutes after eating sugar.

What causes hypoglycaemia?

Insulin is normally produced in the pancreas and helps the body’s cells absorb glucose from the blood:

After a meal the glucose level rises after a meal to about 7-10mmol/l.

One to two hours later, the glucose level starts dropping again. By the next meal, the glucose level is back to normal: about 4-5mmol/l. The insulin level in the blood has also returned to normal.

Term watch

A ‘hypo’ is the short name given to episodes of low blood sugar.

Hypoglycaemic episodes (hypos) can be caused by:

over-treatment – the dose of insulin or diabetes tablets is set too high or you accidentally take too much.

mismatched calorie intake versus demand – this happens when your body needs energy but can’t get it from your calorie intake ie if you eat less than usual or exercise more.

alcohol – alcoholic drinks tend to lower the blood sugar.

What happens during a hypo?

You can experience some or all of the following symptoms:

Did you know?

Hypoglycaemic episodes are categorised as:
mild – you can manage these episodes alone.
serious – you’ll need help from others, such as a family member or doctor.

paleness

shaking

perspiration

a feeling of weakness

rapid heartbeat

hunger

agitation

difficulty concentrating

irritability

fatigue

blurred vision

temporary loss of consciousness

confusion

convulsions

coma.

Most people do get some warning that hypoglycaemia is happening.

But for some, hypoglycaemia may cause few or none of the milder symptoms before the start of sudden unconsciousness or convulsions – particularly if you’ve had diabetes for many years.

Caution

The aim of diabetes treatment is to have as near normal levels of blood sugar as possible.
Deliberately running higher glucose levels should only be done on a doctor’s advice.

This means loss of consciousness can occur without warning.

To avoid this, you are advised to:

maintain a higher level of glucose in the blood

measure your blood sugar level more frequently.

How is a diagnosis made?

Diagnosis is made by measuring the blood sugar level with a glucose meter.

A glucose level below 3.0mmol/l indicates hypoglycaemia.

Some people experience symptoms when their blood sugar level is higher than this – eg at 4.0mmol/l.

Hypos can’t be detected with urine tests for glucose.

How is hypoglycaemia treated?

Did you know?

If you use insulin, your blood sugar level is:
highest 1-2 hours after a meal
lowest 3-4 hours after a meal.

Mild hypoglycaemia is treated by drinking or eating about 10-20g sugar, eg in the form of sweetened juice, milk or glucose tablets.

In the case of a more serious hypo, an ambulance should be called. The paramedic will then give glucose intravenously or glucagon (GlucaGen) (a glucose-increasing hormone) is injected into a muscle.

Your partner and other family members can also be taught to give glucagon injections at home.

A glucagon kit can then be provided so if you suffer several hypos with unconsciousness, immediate treatment is available. In this way, a hospital visit can be avoided.

If you experience hypos repeatedly, you should measure blood sugar level four times a day. This allows you to adjust your insulin and know when you need a snack.

What can I do about hypoglycaemia?

Be familiar with the warning symptoms of hypoglycaemia. This way, you can get treatment quickly. When in doubt, measure your blood sugar levels.

Always carry sugar – preferably glucose in a rapidly-absorbed form such as glucose tablets.

Measure glucose levels regularly. How often depends on your lifestyle – it’s something that a combination of practical experience and expert advice will determine. It can vary from one or two readings a week to several readings a day. Knowing how your blood sugar levels change with various activities means you can adjust your level of insulin and minimise the risk of a hypo.

Follow the dietician’s advice and maintain regular eating habits. Some people experience symptoms of a hypo just before a main meal. To avoid this, have snacks between meals to prevent sugar levels dropping too steeply.

Take care when exercising: exercise lowers glucose levels in the blood. You can counter this by taking less insulin than usual beforehand or by eating more before, during or just after exercise.

Carry an identity card that lets others know you have diabetes.

At night

For many people with diabetes, a low blood sugar level during the night is a big problem because you can sleep through it.

If you wake up with a headache and feel unusually irritable, measure your blood sugar at about 3am.

Lower your risk of a hypo by measuring blood sugar at 10pm or 11pm. If it’s below 8mmol/l, eat a snack.

Alcohol lowers the blood sugar just like insulin – so avoid alcoholic binges.

After drinking a lot of alcohol or dancing, eat a snack before going to bed.

In the long term

Normally, hypoglycaemia is easily treatable. A few mild episodes in a week are not harmful.

It starts to become dangerous only when the glucose level keeps dropping below acceptable limits – the brain’s only source of energy is glucose.

QUESTION:
Gestational diabetes and monitoring sugar levels?
is it normal for some of your readings to be a little high when monitoring your sugar level. I am 34wks. pregnant and was diagnoised with Gestational diabetes, they have scheduled me to see a nutrionist tomorrow, as of now I’ve been managing it myself since June 27, and since than I have had at least 4 high readings all others have been on point. has this ever happened to anyone monitoring their sugar?

ANSWER:
Mine went up a few times but I could tell it was based on what I ate. Once I ate waaaay too much pizza and it spiked. Another time I drank fruit juice with nothing else and it jumped up pretty high. High ever once in a while I don’t think it unusal (and by high I mean mine went to maybe 140). Once the doctor’s finally got their act together and sent me for the 3 hour test (they had been refusing to do so) they realized I didn’t have GD like I kept trying to tell them.

I would say write down everything you eat/drink for a few days and see if there’s a direct connection between what you ate and how high your levels were. Oh… I also wrote down anytime I got even smallest amount of excercise because excercise will help burn off that excess sugar as I’m sure you know.

QUESTION:
If a diabetic is so hungry, What can he eat to avoid high sugar levels?
As a part of an uncontrolled diabetes, a person is so hungry but feels like eating nothing. However the hungry is so intense, almost making him nervous. What can he do or eat without the sugar going so high?

ANSWER:
Any food with no carbohydrates will not effect blood sugar. This includes meat, cheese, most vegitables (lettuce, broccoli, etc), some “no sugar added” foods (some do have carbs though so check the label).. a really good snack is to basically make a sandwich without the bread.. put cheese, lettuce, tomato, etc (just double check the carb count on anything you aren’t sure about) on a couple slices of lunchmeat and roll it up like a wrap!

QUESTION:
My doctor tolled me that I have my sugar levels high is there any kind of diet of sugars?
I DON’T wanna have diabetes so do anyone knows any carbohydrates and sugars diet? D: thanks <3

ANSWER:
The body uses the bloodstream to distribute nutrients to cells and organs, and there should always be a certain amount of glucose circulating in the bloodstream. Glucose (a sugar) is the main fuel of the body, and using the bloodstream it delivers the energy a body needs to function.

Insulin is a hormone which helps regulate blood sugar levels. It is produced by the pancreas, which is an organ close to the stomach. It acts like a key, opening the way for the glucose coming from the food we eat to enter the cells. There it is transformed into the energy the body needs while maintaining blood sugar levels within the specific normal, healthy range. In order for the body to produce sufficient insulin, the pancreas and the endocrine system need to be functioning normally.

Eating at regular intervals during the day, and making sure meals are healthy can go a long way in supporting healthy blood sugar levels. Vitamins, minerals and other nutritional substances are also all important building blocks of systemic health. Regular exercise also helps the body to stay healthy and will contribute towards healthy blood sugar levels.

Due to modern lifestyles, farming methods and fast food mentalities, many people are missing essential vitamins and other nutritional substances from their diets, and need to take supplements on a daily basis.

While many people recognize this and supplement with daily vitamins, there are other nutritional building blocks that are overlooked – and that are valuable and essential for cellular health. Amongst these are minerals or tissue salts – vital components for cellular health.

QUESTION:
i have high blood sugar levels, dr wouldn’t tell me how high but kept referring to diabetes how do i check?

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
sugar levels how high is dangerous?
Here’s one for you. I have type 2 diabetes. my sugar readings were high but never higher than 183. I was taking novalog 70/30. My doctor started me on Byetta 5 units twice a day. My readings are above 210. Do i have a problem developing?

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
My mother is said to have elements for higher sugar levels, but she doesn’t Diabetes. Will I get it?
My mother had a little higher level of sugar in blood and the doctor told her “she has elements for higher sugar levels”, but she doesn’t have diabetes. My grandma, on mother’s side, also had a but higher sugar level, but also wasn’t diagnosed and didn’t have diabates.

Does that mean I am in high risk to get it even though they didn’t have it, but have elements for “higher sugar levels? Nobody in my family was actually diagnosed with it. I am a bit overweight, and I am planning to remove several pounds though.

And in case I get it, if I take care of myself and listen to the doctor can I live to a good old age, or do the diabetes people sooner than the rest?

I’m 21 btw.

ANSWER:
maybe

QUESTION:
Diabetes? High Blood Sugar readings?
I have had a diabetes ‘monitoring day’ today, where they check my blood sugar levels before and after each meal….I still have 1 last one to do, but they have been EXCESSIVELY high, so much so that the nurse looked concerned. The thing is, I drink no sugar drinks, eat no added sugar foods, and am sooooooo careful about my diet concerning this….what is going on? Anyone else had this problem, and what can be done. I absolutely am adamant that I do not eat anything that would make this high.

ANSWER:
High glycemic carbohydrates, i.e potatoes, pasta, bread & rice will turn into sugar very fast and give you high readings. Sugar-free foods with artificial sweeteners can be high as the sweeteners are bulked up with carbs so they can cause high sugar readings too.

You need to lay off the high glycemic carbs including fruit until you are in control of your blood sugar and eat vegetables, fibre, protein and fat. If you need an artificial sweetener you need to use the small tablets of sucralose or splenda which are not bulked up with carbs and usually don’t effect your blood sugar, although testing is the only way to find out.

Most important go for a walk. Ideally after every meal but as that is not usually practical at least once a day. Exercise is key to getting your sugar down.

You don’t mention what type of tablets you are on but some are more effective than others. I use supplements that make me more sensitive to insulin but you need to research them before you take them. Most doctors and nurses have no clue about diabetes, trust me.

You need to find your own solutions get on the web. Doctors wanted me to go on insulin and now they wonder how I am doing so well on diet, exercise and supplements. (never mind the excessive tablets they had me on ruined my kidneys). If I only knew then what I knew now….

Diabetes is no joke as you can loose your sight & limbs. Think not having pasta or rice is bad it is nothing compared to having a physically impaired quality of life.

QUESTION:
1st time with high sugar level(pregnant)… does that mean i have diabetes.?
Throwout my pregnancy I’ve been eating a lot of chocolate. But my sugar levels were normal. But, now that I’m 35 weeks pregnant and have stopped eating chocolate for three weeks now. Today they found a high level of sugar. So……? What does that mean? Do I have diabetes? How do I take care of it? How can I avoid it?

ANSWER:
You may well have developed gestational diabetes, but you can’t determine that based on only one test. To diagnose you, the doctor would need to have you complete a glucose tolerance test. If they do determine you have gestational diabetes, you would control that with diet changes primarily- avoiding a lot of sweets, avoiding simple carbohydrates and eating complex ones- like those found in fruits and veggies and whole grain foods. Gestational diabetes means your body is having difficulty with the challenge of maintaining blood sugar levels, and will usually go away after the baby is born. It will generally happen with each pregnancy afterward though, and is your warning that you are at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. To avoid that, there are changes in diet and lifestyle you can make now though. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to do that, since you’d want your children to lead healthy lives anyway, and teaching by doing is the best way. You can get better information from your own OB-Gyn, and should have this discussion with that doctor as well. Good luck, have a healthy baby.

QUESTION:
When people who have diabetes get that thirsty feeling, is this because their blood sugar is high?
When diabetics get that irritating thirsty feeling, is it always due to high blood sugar levels? Does checking your blood sugar level whenever you get that thirsty feeling always results in a very high blood sugar level? Or is it possible you feel that way even if your blood sugar is not so high like say 100 to 115?

ANSWER:
your sugar would have to be high for a while for thirst to be a symptom of high blood sugar.
When you have diabetes, excess sugar (glucose) builds up in your blood. Your kidneys are forced to work overtime to filter and absorb the excess sugar. If your kidneys can’t keep up, the excess sugar is excreted into your urine along with fluids drawn from your tissues. This triggers more frequent urination, which may leave you dehydrated. As you drink more fluids to quench your thirst, you’ll urinate even more.

QUESTION:
Is 6.0 blood sugar level high enough to be diabetes? Im in canada just to let you know?
Plz help im really worried

ANSWER:
6.0 is a really good blood sugar.
anything between 4.0 + 8.0 is normal.
be proud, theres nothing to worry about (:

QUESTION:
does having a high blood sugar level mean you have diabetes?
Just curious I am going to have a blood test done and I am 16.

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
I have type II diabetes, I currently have high blood sugar level above 300, I generally feel better when?
levels are high, the doctor has started me on byetta, now I feel like my arms and legs are lead filled and can’t hardly pick them up, I have a head ache. When I tried Lantus I had similar symptoms and ended up in hospital with chest pain and vomiting.
What are you supposed to feel when high sugar is coming down to normal levels. I hate this feeling and feel better when levels are high. If there is any specialist out there please help or if you have been thru this too please tell me your experience.

ANSWER:
High blood sugar is like having high blood pressure for a long time and your body gets used to feeling this way. Then when either is lowered to normal ranges, since you are not used to it, you will feel tired and have no energy. Your body has just been used to your blood sugar being high, that’s how you feel “normal”. But please hang in there and this will get better with some time. Then your body will feel normal with a good blood sugar and if you get high or low you will be able to tell something’s not right. If you let your blood sugar stay above 300 for a long time, you are slowly killing yourself. Hang in there, it will get better as your body adjusts to the lower blood sugars.

QUESTION:
I have never been tested for Diabetes! But, I think my blood sugar level is high! How do I bring it down?
I have relatives that were diabetic and I fear that I have become so as well!
I have also been experiencing severe headaches several times a day as well as swelling around my face!

ANSWER:
What makes you think your blood sugar level is high, sweetheart? … and I offer that as a general term of endearment. It is NOT intended to be offensive, obnoxious, condescending, or sexist … though, I must admit, I have yet to use it to an adult male, apart from my own two grown up sons. You haven’t mentioned any symptoms that you might, or might not, be experiencing.

The first thing for you to do, dear lady, is speak with your doctor about having a blood test carried out. If s/he thinks that your symptoms warrant a test, I’m sure s/he will arrange it … maybe even do it him/herself. Be sure to tell your doctor that you do have relatives that are diabetic, as this will get his/her mind thinking along the lines of a genetic component.

If your blood sugar level does prove to be high, your doctor will advise you on how to bring the level down. This may include simple dietary and exercise advice, but could also include medication(s).

I wish you the very best of luck, dear lady, for a long, happy, healthy life.

QUESTION:
How many years etc would it take before high blood sugar levels cause damage.?
Just wondering, if a person has badly controlled diabetes (type 1), and alot of the times the blood sugar is high, how many years from time of diagnosis would it take before any damage would start to show?
By the way this is just a curious question, not a personal one.

ANSWER:
Unfortunately, my friend, there’s no surefire way of determining this. There are too many variables that would need to be taken into consideration, such as how high the blood sugar (glucose) levels are’ how long they’ve been at that level; whether or not insulin is still being produced by the beta cells (islets of Langerhans) of the pancreas; whether any medication(s), including insulin are being used; the level of insulin resistance, if type 2, a person has; whether or not physical activity is being undertaken; the types of foods being taken in; the level to which blood sugar (glucose) levels are rising … and then falling; whether there are any co-morbid (other) conditions present, and probably a whole host of other things that some medical professionals may know about.

Sorry I couldn’t give a direct response to your question, but as long as blood sugar (glucose) levels are above what’s deemed a ‘normal’ level, then damage is being done to internal organs and nerves.

QUESTION:
Can chemotherapy raise your blood sugar levels if you have type 2 diabetes?
I am having chemo for colon cancer and my sugar levels are really high (almost 20 at night and around 10 in the morning) regardless of what I eat.

ANSWER:
Yes. Also, the stress from any illness, including cancer of course, can cause BG levels to skyrocket. You need to work with your doctors and/or diabetes care team to find a way to try and manage your blood sugars through this difficult time.

You will need to adjust your oral medication/start medication, and may need insulin if you are not already on it. If you are on insulin, you will need to learn how to increase your dose when needed.

Please ask your diabetes care team about finding out the right dosage adjustments you will need.

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
Does anyone have some suggestions for how to keep bloog sugar at normal levels when you have diabetes?
I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes last year at the age of 27. I am on pills but not insulin. I can’t seem to keep my blood sugar levels down no matter how hard I try.

ANSWER:
You need to watch the carbs real close. Get a dietitian or nutritionist to help you. Mine recommended the South Beach Diet and it really helps keep the blood sugar in check. It’s easy to follow and is not an exchange diet, and does not count carbs or calories. It’s a very healthy, and safe diet, perfect for diabetics. Many dietitians recommend it to diabetics. I am on it to help control my blood sugar, not to lose weight. Skip phase 1 and start with phase 2. It will teach you about good and bad carbs and gives you lists of food you can and cannot eat. It tells you what to do when you eat out and has recipes in it , too. You can get a paperback copy for around .00 at Walmart. You also need to have daily exercise of some kind. Walking is great because you don’t need any special equipment and you can do it almost any where. It’s can be really hard for a type 2 to control their blood sugar readings sometimes. But if you get good enough at it, sometimes you can get off you meds all together. This is not a cure, but with very tight control, many type 2′s can go without medication for many years. It usually requires meds later in life though. Not all type 2′s can do this. Some have to take oral meds and insulin. The pancreas does not make enough insulin in many cases of type 2. In some cases it makes too much, and the body does not use it properly. This all requires medication . Type 2 is not preventable like some people may tell you. You can control it, but not cure or prevent it.

QUESTION:
What are normal sugar levels for gestational diabetes?
I just started monitoring today and am getting a little confused by some of it.

I tried looking on google but am having a hard time. My levels today were between at a high point 7.8 and the lowest was 5.3. I don’t know what this all means…….
the 7.8 was just after breakfast .

ANSWER:
your levels are good, try to keep them within 5 to 7 and you’ll do fine

QUESTION:
If blood sugar levels are in normal range,can you still have diabetes symptoms?
Ive been checking on my blood sugar levels because i have a history in my family and because im over weight,i also have been getting these weird symptoms like; fatigue,shaky hands,some mood swings,and my eyes be feeling weird but not blurry nor out of focus they feel like they want to sink in,but i have been checking my sugar for the past week and its always in normal range,can someone give me good advise?

ANSWER:
Normal range blood sugar will vary throughout the day based on what you have eaten, how much physical activity you have gotten and how long it has been since you have eaten. On an empty stomach, blood sugar levels should be between 70 and 100mg/dL for a non-diabetic. However, you still not considered a diabetic until blood sugar levels following an overnight fasting are above 126mg/dL.

Let’s say that your blood sugar level on an empty stomach or after an overnight fast is around 115mg/dL. You may assume that you have diabetes – since it is above the high range or “normal” – but you do not. Rather you have what called pre-diabetes or IFG (impaired fasting glucose) and sometimes known as IGT (impaired glucose tolerance).

QUESTION:
What foods can i give to a person who has diabetes and needs to raise their sugar levels up to normal par?
I just need to know what foods can i get to raise up blood sugar levels.

ANSWER:
I was always told that clear juices will bring up the sugars quicker than unclear juices. Therefore in my opinion, drinking apple or berry juice is better than orange juice. I know lot’s of diabetics who swear by orange juice though, so that must work as well.
There are also a number of sugar cubes made specifically for raising blood sugar levels. I prefer dextrose tablets but there are other forms as well.
Candy works well too, of course, but I think it’s best not to take hard candies, because I think that it takes longer for the sugar to be absorbed, because it takes longer to suck them.

QUESTION:
Diabetes “normal” blood sugar levels?
I have done a lot of reading online about what normal results are for blood sugar levels and the majority of health sites seem to say 70 to 100.

I test myself with a home kit about once a week because diabetes runs in my family. My lowest was 62 and my highest is never over 71. I seem to get the number 69 a lot. I test in the afternoons, at least two hours after I have eaten lunch, as suggested on different sites for the most accurate reading.

Should I be considered that my blood sugar is constantly on the low side, even though I am only one point from what it considered normal on average?

ANSWER:
It is low but fine if you feel good
generally, you did not say if your tests are fasting tests or after breakfast by 2 hours because it is how diagnostic opinion should depend on
however, here are the most normal readings:
1) fasting for at least 8 hours= from 70 to 100 mg/dl
2) hours after breakfast (after starting to eat and eating should not take more than 15 minutes) = less than 140 mg/dl
3) any Random test not precisely dependent of eating = less than 200 mg/dl

good luck

QUESTION:
Gestational Diabetes and normal blood sugar levels??
What is the normal blood sugar of someone who is pregnant after eating dinner? Or the recommended amount of sugar for that time?
My doc said I am borderline diabetic so he didnt really have any explanations and I have a blood sugar monitor, and I was 123 after dinner two hours after. I wanted to make sure that it was ok. I dont want to have a 10 pound baby!!
Oh he said I was ok’d not to have to monitor it, by how low my scores were. I am chubby but not giant and I just was wondering..

ANSWER:
Hello – targets during pregnancy are a little lower than normal diabetes. You should be aiming for 130 or less ONE hour after eating, 120 or less TWO hours after eating (you only have to measure once, not both hours).

Fasting blood sugar should be 90 or less in the morning.

123 is so close to the target that I wouldn’t worry. If you want, wait a week and measure again to see if the baby’s growth has affected those numbers. But don’t drive yourself crazy worrying about it.

QUESTION:
WHAT ARE NORMAL SUGAR LEVELS FOR A PERSON WHO DOES NOT HAVE DIABETES.?
also what are normal sugar levels for a child of 7 and a child of 11 .

ANSWER:
Age has nothing to do with blood sugar levels.

Diabetes is diagnosed with 2 or more readings over 125.

Do not randomly test your children’s blood sugar levels with a home glucometer. You’ll get data that you don’t understand and will get all worked up over nothing. If a child gets diabetes you’ll notice because they get very sick. It’s way more dramatic than thirst and urination!

QUESTION:
Is it possible for a person with diabetes to have a normal sugar level?
my question is not really the one stated above. i want to say that i urinate alot, but when i went to the doctor he didn’t tell me i have diabetes, he told me my bloodsugar is 80 which is very health, my kidneys function very well, my cholesterol is 130. but am still having some question marks about me going to bathroom alot. what is the blood sugar level for a person with diabetes? can a person have diabetes and still has a health blood sugar lever?

Thanks!

ANSWER:
SURE!!

ANYONE can (and will) have normal blood sugar levels — but the diabetic only occasionally. In fact, when a diabetic starts treatment, they must be careful fo Hypoglycemic Attacks — blood sugar dangerously TOO LOW!

You blood sugar doe NOT stay at one consistent level throughout the day. it changes, minute by minute, depending on When, What, and How much you ate, your overall health (do you have a cold?) and you mental status (worried, happy, depressed, etc).

At any given instant, you could have almost any blood sugar reading, from dangerously low to extremely high. the “finger Prick” method takes a “snapshot” of just that one moment. because of this, the “finger stick” reading is useful ONLY for on-going care of your diabetes, and NOT a reliable tool for diagnostic.

a BETTER test is the A1C test. this test measure an AVERAGE of your blood sugar levels (highs and lows) over the last 90 days. This test is a MUCH more accurate reading for diagnosing diabetes.

Return to your Doctor, and ASK FOR the A1C test, then discuss the result with him. if the A1C test come back “normal” then you are NOT diabetic, and you need to look into to lifestyle problems for your frequent urination.

QUESTION:
What sugar blood levels are normal for a person with diabetes?

ANSWER:
Since your life is shortened when you have diabetes, you should not aim for being a normal diabetic, you should aim to cure your disease, in other words, be normal in blood sugar. Type 2 can be cured. My dad did it with the Pritikin diet. It is drastic, but the disease’s consequences are severe. Allowing it to continue is keeping drug companies and your doctor in pools of money. Get angry and get cured. If you’re going to drop oranges because they’re carbs, make sure you consume a variety of other fruits including tomatoes. Until your blood sugar drops to normal levels, cut out those starches that are made without fiber like white rice, potatoes, white bread and batter-fried foods. Who wants to be addicted to drugs for 40 years, and then die (or get crippled) early anyway?

QUESTION:
Hi does anyone know the exact normal sugar levels for 3 hour gestational diabetes test? I have my results.?
The nurse called back to say I passed the test but when I looked online I guess I failed one of the 4 readings..I guess they say pass when you have failed just one reading and you fail when its 2 positive readings.
Could you please send me a link or write the normal levels
Here are my levels.
After fasting for 10 hours:
Fasting sugar: 78

First hour after glucose drink: 161

Secind hour after drink: 169

Third hour after drink: 135

Thanks for your help

ANSWER:
I don’t know the numbers but I failed 1 out of the 4 too. Passed the fasting, failed the first hour and passed the 2 and 3rd hour.

QUESTION:
Can you have diabetes even if your sugar level is normal?
I have diabetes on both sides of my family and recently I’ve been experiencing a lot of the symptoms, mostly eye problems and migraines. My sugar level was 99, though, which is perfect. What does that mean?

ANSWER:
Clinically, you could be in early stages. Typical signs are being overweight, extreme thirst. You may be suffering from hyperinsulinity resulting in your insulin receptors becoming less sensitive requiring more and more insulin. Yes genetics are factors, making diet even more important. Avoid sugar except honey. Stay away from all grains like wheat, rice, etc….. Concentrate on green leafy vegetables and lean meat if type O and B blood and soy and whey protein if type A and AB blood.

The best way to increase the insulin receptors sensitivity is to reduce your intake of simple carbs.

Good luck!

QUESTION:
Does more muscle mass help in keeping blood sugar levels more normal. As in having diabetes?

ANSWER:
This opens a complex issue, more than it appears.

For about 2/3 of the body cells, insulin is required to take in glucose from the blood. In type 1 diabetes (what used to be called juvenile diabetes), the body doesn’t produce insulin anymore. It has to come from the outside or death is very very likely. And, of course, without insulin, the glood glucose level goes, and usually stays high.

In type 2 diabetes, those body cells stop (more or less) listening to the insulin. And if they[‘re not taking in glucose, there will be more in blood, and glucose levels will be high.

in non-diabetics, glucose is absorbed into cells and used for fuel. Two kinds of cells have internal storage for glucose they don’t need right now. One kind is liver cells and the other is muscle cells. Liver cells are a kind of temporary storage, and when blood glucose levels go down, they take some of the stored glucoses and put it back into the blood. Muscle cells don’t have the machinery to do that, so their stored glucose stays in the muscle cell until it’s used for fuel. When marathon runners carbo load, what they’re trying to do is get all the liver and muscle cells to take in as much glucose as possible, so they can use it during the race.

There is one exception to this need insulin to absorb glucose business. When muscles exercise, they can take in glucose more or less regardless of whether insulin is present. The effect is easily measurable and lasts for a few hours after the exercise stops. It’s one reason diabetics are told to exercise.

So, if you have lots of muscle mass, you can absorb more glucose than the 90 pound weakling on Muscle Beach. If you don’t eat much, eventually the liver’s stored glucose will be put into the blood and, especially when you exercise, will be absorbed into the muscle cells. If the liver was full, this will be something like 3/4 of a kilogram of glucose. But, if your glucose levels go down and even the liver’s storage can’t keep it up, your body will start making glucose itself, mostly from taking protein apart. A few of the amino acid building blocks in protein can be turned into glucose. The rest will be discarded into the blood and if there are enough the kidneys will start dumping them. And, one part of stored fat (just a small part) can be turned into glucose as well; the rest can’t.

So, to answer your question, more muscle mass will let you absorb more glucose than otherwise, BUT, the body is very committed to keeping glucose in the blood that even lots of muscle mass can’t git rid of all of it. And, if you’re diabetic with insulin problems of one kind or another, your muscles can’t take in glucose very well, unless you exercise. Even then, your muscles won’t be a ble to take in enough to get all the glucose.

Yes muscle mass helps, no it is not a substitute for insulin (type 1 diabetics and some type 2), nor for other medication (both types).

Getting buffed won’t make the diabetes or ist problems go away, and can’t really help all that much in any case. But he exercise you need to get the muscles will help. Don’t stop.

A warning! Steroid drugs have an unfortunate effect. They interfere with the insulin-glucose business, and long term use can and does cause diabetes. If you’re diabetic or becoming diabetic, don’t even consider it. Locker room legends are not very reliable sources of information on medical issues. Consult a doctor…

QUESTION:
is it True that even if i keep my Sugar level normal, i eventually will die from diabetes soon?
i asked my doctor and he said as long as i have a normal Sugar level i can live like anyone else. but i read somewhere that even though its normal, a diabetic will die soon, and exercising and a healthy diet only slow down the process, but eventually you will die young from it! im still 23 years old and been recently diagnosed with type 2. and i am scared that i might die young from it!
i am exercising and on a healthy diet and my sugar level is always normal!

ANSWER:
No, it is not true. People who develop problems (get sick, lose limbs or even die) do so as a result of NOT doing the things they are supposed to be doing.

Think about it… when your sugar levels are NORMAL, you are basically just like any other person who doesn’t have the disease. If you do all the things you are supposed to do (eat healthfully & avoid sugars, take your sugar levels often, take your medications as directed, visit your doctor regularly to check your diabetic status & adjust medications, stay on top of keeping cuts on hands and feet clean [and go to the doctor if necessary for treatment of those cuts], exercise, etc.) and you are keeping your sugar levels consistently normal, you can live a long and healthy life.

Just consider this as your lifestyle, just like a vegetarian has a certain lifestyle. You will be fine if you commit to that lifestyle. Good luck to you.

QUESTION:
Blood sugar levels in normal people?
What is the normal blood sugar level in a normal person without diabetes after they eat some kind of sugar or something?

ANSWER:
I got these numbers from my doctor who is an endocrinologist, and also from the ADA. We also discussed them in one of my diabetic ed. classes

Readings for those that do NOT have diabetes

Fasting….70 to 100
2 hours after a meal …70 to 140

QUESTION:
what is the normal range of blood sugar levels in a women without diabetes?

ANSWER:
If the woman is not pregnant, then her normal fasting (before breakfast) blood sugar level should be 70 to 99 ml/dL. Within 2 hours after she eats (called the postprandial level), her blood sugar level should not exceed 120. At no time during the day should her blood sugar level exceed 140. During pregnancy, a woman’s blood sugar level can fluctuate by trimester.

QUESTION:
Normal blood sugar levels for a 13 year old girl?
I have no diabetes or high blood sugar, etc, but my dad and my grandpa both do, so, my dad wanted to check my blood sugar, just in case. It read 97 (but this was at like 11:00 p.m. after i ate what i ate for the day.) Basically, can someone please tell me the normal levels for a 13 year old girl? Or any foods i should stay away from so that i don’t get diabetes, high blood sugar, etc.? Also, is 97 too high/low or is it ok? (my dad said it was pretty high)

ANSWER:
your dad is wrong. 97 is a perfectly normal number, i assure you.
normal levels for 13 yr olds are the same as the normal blood sugar levels for everyone else, which are now 70-110 (altho i still go by 80-120).
foods you may want to stay away from are extremely sugary things- like regular sodas, cakes, donuts, etc. (altho you can eat/drink these occasionally, but just make sure it’s in moderation).
just make sure you’re including fruits and veggies and the recommended grains and meats in your meals. and make sure to include some daily exercise and you should be ok

QUESTION:
Diabetes and blood sugar levels: fasting levels in pre range and random in normal range.?
For those who have diabetes or experts in the area of endocrinology: I have to wait until I have health insurance for a blood draw from a vein to confirm or rule out diabetes officially. I have been using accuchek to do fasting tests and those have been in the pre-diabetes range. I have done a couple of random tests and they seem to be in the normal range- 126 and 111 consequetively (different days) withint 2 to 5 hours or so of eating. What I can’t figure out is why then is my fasting test result elevated (after at least12 hours) ? I am not on any insulin so the somogyi affect doesn’t apply. I have had increased thirst of late. Might have some other symptoms but have to wait and see if those are temporary. A lot of symptoms I don’t count because some are normal for me so they woud have to be really noticeable or extreme. I haven’t been sleeping well lately either. I figured at first maybe that would go away but it hasn’t.
I think my health insurance starts in June sometime. I don’t want to add another pre-existing condition…want this to be covered whatever it turns out to be.

ANSWER:
get you health insurance girl===something is going on that isn’t right by the look of your description=good luck

QUESTION:
pregnant, normal blood sugar levels after eating?
just wondering, do people without diabetes blood sugar levels spike like up to 7.2 after dinner. I have never noticed this before, and have been keeping an eye on my blood sugar levels over the past week or so, and they seem to be 5.8 – 2 hours after eating, and just then i checked and they are 7.2, just after i finished eating, I dont have diabetes that i know of, and im 25weeks 6 days pregnant, couldnt this be the onset of gestational diabetes?

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Is this a normal blood sugar for an 11yr old that is constantly going to the bathroom and drinking alot?
I asked a question yesterday about my 11yr old stepdaughter that is constantly going to the bathroom and drinking alot during the daytime. She sometimes goes 2x a nite also. I talked to her mother and she said that she has a small bladder, which could be true but I had my sister in law test her blood sugar and it was 131. This was done about 1- 1 1/2 hrs after she ate supper. I am going to retake today to see what it is but I don’t know the best time. She said if it gets up to 150 go to the dr right away. She said it was a little high but nothing to be to concerned about since she had eaten. I don’t know anything about diabetes or normal blood sugar levels. I was just looking for a little help and some advice. thanks in advance to your answers.

ANSWER:
According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes is diagnosed as a casual (taken anytime) blood sugar greater than 199 along with symptoms OR a fasting blood sugar greater than 125.

This link is their position statement.

QUESTION:
What is a normal blood sugar level for someone without diabetes?

ANSWER:
Normal Fasting Blood Sugar
A normal fasting blood sugar (which is also the blood sugar a normal person will see right before a meal) is:

83 mg/dl (4.6 mmol/L) or less.

Many normal people have fasting blood sugars in the mid and high 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/L) range.

Though most doctors will tell you any fasting blood sugar under 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) is “normal”, there are several studies that suggest that testing with a fasting blood sugar in the mid 90 mg/dl (5 mmol/L) range often predicts diabetes that is diagnosed a decade later.
Post-Meal Blood Sugar (Postprandial)
Independent of what they eat, the blood sugar of a truly normal person is:

Under 120 mg/dl (6.6 mmol/L) one or two hours after a meal.

Most normal people are under 100 mg/dl (5.5 mmol/L) two hours after eating.

Take Care

TIN

QUESTION:
what is a normal blood sugar level for people with type 2 diabetes?
How bad is a blood sugar level of 470? what risks is someone taking by not notifiying their doctor of this level? My mother is not on insuling shots yet and is afraid if she tells her Dr. the truth she will have to take daily shots.

The generally accepted norm range for blood sugar in all people text book wise is 70-110, or 80-120.

She really needs to ask her DOCTOR though what number range is ok with him, for HER.

Not taking care of your blood sugar can have serious consequences.

“How bad is a blood sugar level of 470?”

EXTREMLEY DANGEROUS.

QUESTION:
Had gestational diabetes, is this a normal sugar level?
I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 32 weeks pregnant. I controlled my glucose levels really well, according to my doctor, and very rarely got a number that was over 135, what I was told was the cut off point, and usually closer to 100 an hour after meals. My levels were controlled through diet and exercise exclusively. My baby has now been born, as of last Sunday. I tested my glucose levels tonight after eating dinner at 1 hour and 2 hours after dinner. My results were 120 at one hour and 87 at 2 hours. From what I can find on Dr Google, this should be considered normal readings, right? I was told that I could return to a normal diet after my little one was born, but they strongly recommended sticking to the dietary guidelines I was taught as part of my gestational diabetes management plan.

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
I have symptoms of diabetes, I tested my sugar levels today, and it was 6.2. Is that normal?

I have lost a stone in the last 3 months without dieting, and I am peeing every 30 mins and feel thirsty all the time, and I feel light-headed aswell. The reading I took was 4 hours after breakfast and it was 6.2.

ANSWER:
what are the symptoms you have? your surgar level is very good… I good Blood Glucose Level (BGL) is 3mmol to 8mmol however depending on what you have done or eatten or how you took the BGL… what you should do is wipe of the first drop of blood first to take away anything that can alter the reading and squeeze out another drop, if your using an alcohol swipe wait 40 sec before pricking youself if not it is recomended you wash your hands so that you dont get a false high reading. if you get 8 or more on an empty stomach thats when you should get doc to check it out.
symptoms of Diabetes are:
confusion
frequent needing to urinate and in turn thirsty often
lithargic and dizzy

however what you stated so far sounds perfectly natural! your fine.

In your additional information… you do show the symtoms of diabetes you should check out a doctors opinion untill you get an appiontment try keep a “diary” of your BGL readings (time/score/what you eatten) try to take your BGL right after you wake up before you break your fast therefore it would make it easier on the doc to diagnose quicker or just get a feel for how your system is functioning. I wish you alll the very best
Kind regards
Sylvia

QUESTION:
I am 17 weeks pregnant, Gestational Diabetes, Sugar levels dropped?!?!?
I am 17 weeks pregnant with my second. My first I had Gestational Diabetes and with this one my glucose levels have already been on the higher end. Doc is pretty sure I will be Insulin dependant again at some point during this pregnancy. Yesterday and this morning, however, my blood sugar levels were all around the normal-low range (and I didn’t change anything about what I would normally eat for the day). My before lunch reading was even borderline too low. My question is if this has happened to anyone else with GD, or if this could possibly be an early sign of a miscarrage? I haven’t felt pregnant in a few weeks (mainly because my morning sickness has finally ended, hurrah!) Any stories, or insight would be much apreciated : ) Thank you in advanced : )

ANSWER:
I am 16 weeks pregnant, and have had diabetes-type one for 20 years. Although the docs give you a range to be in sometimes your body, the hormones and your organs decide something different, could be based on what you ate or how active you were or could just be your body doing what it wants. A low bloodsugar or an unusual low or high is not a sign of miscarriage, but it is something you shoudl watch more closely for your safety. When it happens that your bloodsugar is seemingly low for no good reason, test more often and eat more often to assure you are in a comfortable range for you. My advice is just take care of yourself the best that you know how. At this point in your pregnancy the baby is taking care of its own bloodsugars with its own insulin production. Make sure of course that you are keeping it in range, but dont freak over the little highs and lows every once and a while, they are worse for you right now than they are for your baby. Take care of you and your baby will follow.
Good Luck! I’ve been there for 20 years pregnant or not, it is not fun. I hope you don’t have to take insulin injections, but no matter what you are doing fine. Not to worry. Congrats and Good Luck!

QUESTION:
Diabetes makes sugar levels abnormally high, but do they go low too?
a diabetic untreated by insulin neglected or forgot to eat enough would their sugar levels drop at any stage? to a normal level or hypo level?
or if a diabetic ate unbelievably healthy very low carb no sugar sort of diet?

ANSWER:
It depends. Type 2 diabetics, who are not on insulin, rarely go too low. It does happen, though. But no one has been able to tell me why. I’m never been below 70 in my four year history with the disease, so hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a non issue with me.

Type 1s (insulin dependent) can and do have low blood sugar episodes when they take too much insulin or don’t eat enough to compensate for the amount they took. It’s a balancing act to say the least. In the scenario you present, where they don’t take insulin, the chances of having a low blood sugar episode is highly unlikely unless the patient has insulinoma, which is pretty rare. In most cases, given that scenario, their blood sugar will not come down… it could even go up because the liver can still convert glycogen into glucose even though no food has been consumed.

Lots of variables, no absolutes.

QUESTION:
type 2 diabetes whats the normal sugar level?

ANSWER:
The normal fasting sugar level in the morning after 12 hours with no food,calculated in whole-blood (not plasma) measurement in the USA in miligrams per deciliter is from about 70-120 mg dl.
Below about 70 you would start to feel shakey from low sugar levels. About 3 hours after eating a normal meal,normal sugar levels should be around 120-150 for diabetics. They shouldnt go over 200mg dl,and should go back down under 120 with in about 3 hours.
Most normal (non-diabetc) individuals dont really go above 135 mg dl. Alot of non-diabetics ive tested with my home diabetic meter(One Touch Brand,by Johnson & Johnson), have normaly had sugar readings of about 85-95mg dl with no matter what they ate or drank ,directly before,after,or even 3 hours after any meal with any activity level.
Lots of activity can help to lower sugar levels,such as walking and swimming. Ask a doctor before running or lifting weights because if you have weak capillaries in your eyes or something,you can burst them and go blind.
Supplements such as GTF Chromium at 200mg 3 times a day with meals have helped reduce sugar levels in some people,as well as vanadium(vanadyle sulfate), gymnema sylvestra, bean pod tea, blue berry extract, cinnamon,and many other herbs and vitamin supplements have been reported to aid in reducing sugar levels in some people.
Work with you doctor in using these and other supplements,and drink plenty of water.

Any suggestions on recipes or meal plans that work well? I know their is no such hing as a diabetic diet but I know there are obviously things to avoid.

ANSWER:
My doctor wants me 80 to 120 before meals and when I wake up in the morning.

QUESTION:
Diabetes in pregnancy. Does the blood sugar level return to normal after the birth?
or will the mother remain diabetic?
It’s not about me. It’s my daughter-in-law. But thanks for the answers up to now.

ANSWER:
Hi!

They call it Type III Diabetes Mellitus (DM) or gestational diabetes for pregnant women. Onset usually happens during pregnancy. Reversal happens after termination of pregnancy.

God bless to you and to your daughter-in-law!
sky

QUESTION:
Anyone know if you can have diabetes, but when they test your blood sugar/glucose levels are normal?

ANSWER:
Such a case happens if:

1.- Diabetes is being treated, and the response of the body is good.

2.- You are not under treatment but are in a “honeymoon phase”. It means that your own insulin increases as a “last resource” before pancreas exhaustion, and your body responds to the higher level of insulin. Wont last much for body is due to respond to a NORMAL level of insulin.

This honeymoon phase can be detected with a glucose tolerance curve and a C peptide level in blood.

None of them means treatment will not be necessary or that you can stop taking care of yourself.

QUESTION:
what should normal sugar levels be?
my sister in law ate a hamburger at 6.00pm and at 7.30 her sugar levels were 1.6 does this mean she could have suugar diabetes and what type do you think it is?

ANSWER:
80 to 120. A fasting blood sugar should be in this range. Anything above 120 is high. A diabetic needs to check their sugar everyday with a glucose meter.

QUESTION:
what could be making my sugar levels so high besides diabetes?
last winter i was diagnosed with hep a and since then i have had problems with stomach acid and may have a peptic ulcer… since then however, my doctor had a lot of blood work done for me and noticed my sugar levels were high. she gave me a meter to check my blood sugar randomly every day, and it has never been normal! it has been everywhere from 140-280! i don’t have any other symptoms of diabetes and my stomach problems are not nearly as bad as before… what could this mean?

ANSWER:
I agree with Blazer.No need to wait till your blood sugars get higher.Make an appointment with the doctor.Record fasting blood sugars(morning blood sugar before eating).Record blood sugars taken one and half to two hours after meals.Your doc can use this info.Early treatment lessens risks of circulatory,kidney,eye,cardiac,nerve pain problems.

QUESTION:
Diabetes blood sugar levels?
I have a friend with Diabetes type 2, and she has a blood sugar level of 500. Is this normal or is this a concern

ANSWER:
My husband has type 2 diabetes and had levels that high for a while. His doctor rang him when he saw the results and asked my husband to come to the doctor’s immediately. With medication his levesl are now under control.
Here are the main symptoms to look for:
Feeling thirsty.
Having to urinate more than usual.
Feeling more hungry than usual.
Losing weight without trying to.
Feeling very tired.

Here are the more serious ones:
lots of infections and cuts and bruises that heal slowly;
blurred vision;
tingling or numbness in your hands or feet;
lots of skin, gum, or bladder infections.

QUESTION:
Diabetes sugar Levels Bedtime and Before Breakfast?
Ok I asked about my sugar level last night before I went to bed and I took level as I just got up before I went to bed. My first sugar level before I went to bed last night 3 hours after diner and it was 121 mg. I just woke up and took them (slept in a little) before I am going to eat breakfast and there 104 Mg. Is this a Normal blood sugar or is there something to worry about? I have to go to the bathroom allot, im fatigued and hungry allot, my hands and feet seem to fall asleep allot and I generally feel like crap all the time. Im 23 and also 40 ilbs overweight, but I’ve been watching my diet and it doesn’t seem to make a difference? Im going to a doctor anyway, but what do you think?

ANSWER:
That is actually very normal.

Pre-meal (fasting) should range 70-120 give or take.
Post meal should range 90-150 give or take.
Anything consistently over 170 is pre-diabetes or diabetes if you are overweight and over the age of 25.
If you are under 25 – as in your case, I dont think you have too much to worry about here, but 200+ is Diabetes for sure.

There are a lot of causes of frequent urination, your best bet is to go get a physical and explain your issues to the doctor. I would say for this case, Diabetes is not your problem.

QUESTION:
Gestational diabetes and monitoring sugar levels?
is it normal for some of your readings to be a little high when monitoring your sugar level. I am 34wks. pregnant and was diagnoised with Gestational diabetes, they have scheduled me to see a nutrionist tomorrow, as of now I’ve been managing it myself since June 27, and since than I have had at least 4 high readings all others have been on point. has this ever happened to anyone monitoring their sugar?

ANSWER:
Mine went up a few times but I could tell it was based on what I ate. Once I ate waaaay too much pizza and it spiked. Another time I drank fruit juice with nothing else and it jumped up pretty high. High ever once in a while I don’t think it unusal (and by high I mean mine went to maybe 140). Once the doctor’s finally got their act together and sent me for the 3 hour test (they had been refusing to do so) they realized I didn’t have GD like I kept trying to tell them.

I would say write down everything you eat/drink for a few days and see if there’s a direct connection between what you ate and how high your levels were. Oh… I also wrote down anytime I got even smallest amount of excercise because excercise will help burn off that excess sugar as I’m sure you know.

QUESTION:
What are normal blood sugar levels?
I’ve been diagnosed with insulin resistance or pre-diabetes, I’m just curious what normal blood sugar levels would be.

I’m 17, about 160,170lbs and 5’2. idk if that’s important. (yea i just admitted to being short and fat)

A blood glucose test measures the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. Reasons for testing glucose levels are to check for diabetes, to monitor treatment of diabetes, and to check for hypoglycemia. There are several different types of glucose tests. The ‘fasting blood sugar’ test checks glucose levels after an eight-hour fast and is often the first test performed when checking for diabetes. For this test, levels have to fall between 70 and 99 in order to be considered normal. The ‘two-hour postprandial blood sugar’ test measures glucose levels two hours after eating a meal.

Normal glucose levels for this test fall between 70 and 145. Random blood sugar testing checks glucose levels randomly throughout the day, regardless of meal times. If levels vary widely, there could be a problem. Blood sugar levels should be between 70 and 125 in order to be considered normal for random testing. The ‘oral glucose tolerance test’ diagnoses diabetes and predicaments. This tests your blood after drinking a glucose drink. If you think you may have a blood sugar disorder, contact your primary care physician for testing. There are many conditions that can cause a change in your blood glucose levels. Normal results may vary depending on the lab.

QUESTION:
I need to know how my heart murmur is affecting my diabetes 2 blood sugar level when I am under stress.?
I monitor my blood sugar regularly through out the day, fasting, before & after meals and at bedtime. On normal days my readings are normal but whenever I am stressed emotionally or physically I see significantly higher blood sugar levels than normal. I exercise regulary and watch my diet; I am keeping a journal of what I eat, my readings and how my day has gone. I am seeing a pattern of increased blood sugar levels on the occasions I feel extreme stress and I am aware at these times that my heart is responding with “fight or flight” symtoms. I would really like some help and insight with this and what types of things I can do to help myself. Thank you,

ANSWER:
Elevated blood sugar levels are perfectly normal when the body is under any type of stress. Mine goes up every time I get sick or stressed out. The more you exercise, the lower the spikes will become. Get the book I recommend on my diabetes info webpage. It will help you understand the disease better and how to treat it more effectively. Plus, there’s all kinds of useful info there:

http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/Type_II_Diabetes.html

QUESTION:
Is it possible for type-1 diabetic to have ‘normal’ sugar levels but still be hypoglycemic?
I know this is strange, but my boyfriend has had about 7-9 all afternoon, but acting like he is is low on sugar. He is refusing to eat, confused, aggressive, hazy eyed. He has had diabetes for 25 years now and is 30 and i am worried that it could be a condition associated with the disease. Please help.

ANSWER:
The main possibilities are:

1) He’s aggressive because you keep pestering him when he’s fine.

2) There’s something wrong with the measurements and he’s lower than he thinks. Is the glucometer correctly coded? Has he got sugar on his hands?

3) He has been high and is now dehydrated.

3) There’s something unrelated to his diabetes wrong or he has developed a complication which is not related to his short term blood glucose level.

Check the glucometer’s coded correctly and offer him a non-sugary drink then just keep an eye on him.

QUESTION:
is this blood sugar level normal for someone without diabetes?
On the testing machine it said 3. I am going to check later as well. Is this low, and does this mean i am diabetic i used my mams machine tester thing without her knowing she is at work. Here is my last post question if this helps, and why it drove me to test them….

Basically my mam has been diabetic since the age of three (now 36), and i dare not tell her i am concerned about myself in case she does not believe me.

these are my symptoms they are developing quite rapidly.

Increased thirst – drinking about 8 sport training bottles full of juice, at least everyday. and i never feel hydrated, i am always thirsty.

Increased urine – usually go about twice an hour day time, and for example it is half 12 at night now and i have been to the bathroom at least 5 times in the past hour, and i am not passing little amounts of urine, i am passing quite a lot as if i had held it in for hours.

exhausted – i will have 12 and a half hours sleep and i am still shattered, i have been off school for two days now because i seriously have not got the energy to even go on facebook never mind go out the house.

headaches – come now and again

sickness – (with no vomit) usually on a morning or after food.

dizziness and feeling faint.

clammy – feeling sweaty but not actually sweating

please help, these symptoms are accruing quite fast, my mam is at work all day how can i tell her my concerns or make my symptoms more ovious to her..

i am only 15.

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
what is the normal blood sugar level for people with diabetes?

ANSWER:
Same as anyone else. The range for fasting is between 80 – 120 as stated above. Also, as stated above, the hemoglobin A1C should be less than 7… mine is 5.8. If you are diabetic and and want to avoid complications from high blood glucose, then you should do as I have…. keep your weight down, eat a healthy (mostly vegetable) diet, exercise regularly, and take a few supplements like me:

http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/Type_II_Diabetes.html

QUESTION:
whats the normal blood sugar level a person with diabetes can have?

ANSWER:
80 to 100.

QUESTION:
What are normal Blood Sugar levels in 2 & a half year old kid.?
I tested my son and his sugar was about 208 and i was wondering if you think he has diabetes?I am going to take him to the doctor tomorrow to make sure but i was wanting your opinion
~My mom and dad has diabetes
~Im starting to get all the symptoms of low bloodsugar i have an appointment with the doc next week.
~My son ate potatoes and some of an egg for breakfast.
~He also ate sanwich and a hand full of cheezits
For lunch.

ANSWER:
Though I can understand your concern (I went through a comparable episode with my 4-year old a while back -you can read the details on the page I linked below), definitely your best bet is to take your kid to the doctor for testing.

At 2 years of age blood sugar levels are not the same that they are in an adult. Having said that, it sounds like 208 is a bit elevated even for a kid.

Best of luck with the doctor. Hope it’s nothing but a scare and hope this info helps.

QUESTION:
What’s a normal blood sugar level reading for a person without diabetes?
Well, my mom has diabetes and sometimes I use her meter to check my blood sugar. I was wondering if it was high or not.

Yesterday, I checked it, and I hadn’t ate in about an hour and it 126 (Not sure what units of measurements, but I used standard glucose meter)

Today, I hadn’t ate in about four hours and it was 136. I have consumed more glucose today than I did yesterday, but it’s not a significant jump between yesterday and today.

I was wondering based on these two readings, are my blood sugar levels high or normal. I’ve known people to have readings in the 200s, so I’m only assuming that it’s normal.

ANSWER:
Normal Fasting Blood Sugar
A normal fasting blood sugar (which is also the blood sugar a normal person will see right before a meal) is:

83 mg/dl (4.6 mmol/L) or less.

Many normal people have fasting blood sugars in the mid and high 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/L) range.

Though most doctors will tell you any fasting blood sugar under 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) is “normal”, there are several studies that suggest that testing with a fasting blood sugar in the mid 90 mg/dl (5 mmol/L) range often predicts diabetes that is diagnosed a decade later.

Tin

QUESTION:
what is the normal level of blood sugar before diabetes is confirmed?

ANSWER:
Many people are type 2 diabetic for quite a while before they are diagnosed, according to my diabetes care nurse the average is 9 YEARS!!!!
A fasting blood glucose above 7mmols/l (UK measurement system) would be considered at risk and would be followed by a glucose tolerance test. The 2 hours post glucose test being over 10 mmols/l is confirmation of diabetes…;

QUESTION:
What is the normal sugar level in the blood?
my mom was diagnosed with diabetes, however she has the type of diabetes where she doesn’t need to have insulin, she needs to pinch herself every two or three days to monitor her sugar levels, that’s all.

yesterday she started and she got 112 in the little machine, is this normal?

QUESTION:
How long would a normal person have to go without eating for there sugar levels become dangerously low?
for a school project in science about Sugar levels in people without diabetes. When i say dangerously low, i mean needing to go to hospital for treatment.

ANSWER:
hmmm

usually 4 to 5 days for most people will send them into some sort of mild shock. at that point your body realizes no food is coming anytime soon so it starts to feed on itself. from there it depends and is different for everyone. some people can last about a week and need glucose right away or will die, some people (like this one guy in brazil) can go 65 days without food and still survive. he was on a food strike for political reasons. but all in all i would say 7-10 days for most and some can go longer.

wanna answer mine

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101125023610AANR3Fq&r=w

QUESTION:
whats the normal sugar level for a person with diabetes?

ANSWER:
Under 100.

QUESTION:
question for our american friends, in diabetes how do you measure blood sugar levels.?
in england we measure in mmoles and normal level is about 6-7 mmoles, what is yours. i heard the other day normal was about 106, whatever that is, in england that would mean the person is dead, 20 is high, so what is normal in america. thanks.

ANSWER:
Americans measure it in milligrams per deciLiter (mg/dL). The normal is anywhere from about 70-110 mg/dL.

To convert, take mmol # and multiply it by 18 to get the mg/dL equivalent, OR take the mg/dL number and divide it by 18 to get the mmol equivalent

QUESTION:
What are normal blood sugar levels supposed to be at?
What are normal blood sugar levels supposed to be before meals & what are they supposed to be after meals?

I tested my blood sugar before I ate anything and it was 130. Is that a normal level?

I’ve never been tested for diabetes but I decided to start checking my blood sugar levels because I havent been feeling right lately.

I feel ill everyday. Before I eat meals my whole body shakes and I feel really nervous and sick like Im gonna pass out. My hands shake so much its hard to function. Then when I do eat something I feel so tired that I can barely move.

Advice please??

ANSWER:
Think the normal blood sugar is around 100. 130 is a little high for a pre-meal reading. The shaking sounds like too low a blood sugar, though. But, I don’t know what to say about tiredness.

See a doctor about this, since other factors may be at work.

QUESTION:
What is the normal blood sugar level, and what is the level to be considered to have diabetes?????

ANSWER:
The general rule is if you haven’t fasted normal is considered to be less than 100mg/dL anything from 100-199mg/dL is considered prediabetes anything over 200mg/dL is considered diabetes.
However if you have fasted for at least 8 hours the normal range is from 70 – 100mg/dL, between 100 – 125mg/dL is considered prediabetes. Anything over 126mb/dL is considered dibetes.

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
How is high levels of sugar dangerous?
If you have let’s say a lot of glucose in your blood stream how is it dangerous and apart from diabetes what could it do.

ANSWER:
High glucose levels in your blood, as well as increasing diabetes risks, can in pregnant women show a distinct increase for developing pre-eclampsia, which can harm both mother and child. Also patients with high glucose levels who have suffered a stroke are at increased risk for suffering another stroke.
Serious stuff!

QUESTION:
I am diabetic with out of control blood sugar levels I am scehduled for surgery is this dangerous?
I am scheduled for a total hysterectomy on the 3rd of June. My sugars are out of control and I don’t have the money to buy my insulin.My body doesn’t produce insulin on it’s own I have type 1 diabetes.Would it be dangerous to have this surgery right now?

ANSWER:
Go to the County health Clinic. Free diabetic supplies. It don’t take a lot of days for a Type 1 diabetic to die. So, I suggest RIGHT NOW>

QUESTION:
im 31 weeks pregnant with gestational diabetes WHAT IS A DANGEROUS BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL? RIGHT NOW ITS 170?
I TAKE INSULIN TWICE DAILY , BUT MY SUGAR KEEPS RISING, IS 170 AN ALERT TO CALL A DOCTOR? ALSO MY HEART SEEMS TO BE RACING AND IM VERY TIRED, MORE THAN NORMAL FOR A PREGNANCY/ IS IT IN MY HEAD?

ANSWER:
I’d recommend you see a doctor. The ideal blood sugar level is around 100, and you seem like you’re showing symptoms, so yes, you should call a doctor.

QUESTION:
sugar levels how high is dangerous?
Here’s one for you. I have type 2 diabetes. my sugar readings were high but never higher than 183. I was taking novalog 70/30. My doctor started me on Byetta 5 units twice a day. My readings are above 210. Do i have a problem developing?

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
At what point are blood sugar levels dangerous to my baby?
Hi, I am about 4.5 weeks pregnant and have gestational diabetes. I had it with my last child, controlled it with diet and he is luckily fine. This time I am older and my fasting is often over 100 but not higher than 110. My after meal numbers are fine, usually in the 90′s.
Any tips on how to get my fasting number lower? I am exercising, cut out sweets and balancing my carbs.
Thank you!
I go to the dr. next wednesday for my first check up. Is it ok to wait that long?
Thank you everyone. I have not been re-tested for gestational diabetes but I know from my numbers that I have it again. I don’t have diabetes normally. My fasting was just 88 and 93 and I passed the glucose tolerance test as well. It stinks to have this the entire pregnancy but I will do whatever it takes to have a healthy baby.
Thank you Doug. It’s frustrating because my a1c has been between 4.0 and 4.5. My fasting has been between 88 and 93 so I am not considered diabetic! I am overweight though-having children and no time to take care of myself has done that. I am going to take this weight off for good now so I don’t expect to ever be a full diabetic.

ANSWER:
If you currently have “gestational diabetes” at 4.5 weeks, it’s more than gestational diabetes. It’s diabetes. Given that, in addition to an OB, you should be seeing an endocrinologist (diabetic specialist). While the “medical jury” is still out on this one and there are certainly varying opinions, gestational diabetes usually manifests after 13 weeks. Anything prior to that is regular diabetes and needs to very closely managed. Best wishes!

Also, most docs will carefully watch blood sugars on patients that have had GD with a previous pregnancy and not wait until 28 weeks for labs.

QUESTION:
I take large amounts of sugar substitutes for energy. Am I at a dangerous level of contracting diabetes?

ANSWER:
Pretty hard to tell from here. You left out way too much information. Next time, let’s have your weight, your age, your family history of diabetes, what types of “sugar substitutes” you’re talking about, what level of daily activity you’re involved in, what your daily diet consists of, what your ethnic background is (Hispanics, blacks, and native Americans tend to have a fairly high incidence of type two diabetes), etc., etc.

You see what I’m saying?

QUESTION:
Is diabetes in old age dangerous?
My dad is 59 years old and he is diagnosed with diabetes, is it dangerous?
because i know if you get diabetes in younger age it is deadly. is this dangerous too?
His sugar level was 240 randomly.
He is not taking any medication, he had a blood test today and found out.

ANSWER:
Diabetes at any age is dangerous if you do not control and maintain healthy blood glucose levels. Random for your dad should be not over 180 mg/dl 2 hours after meals to get specific readings. Is he on medication? If he is then perhaps he needs to see his doctor and get his meds updated if his glucose levels are remaining at this level. He needs to check before and after meals in order to check those levels and keep a diary, if possible to share with his doctor.

Dietary and exercise is important in controlling blood glucose levels and taking your meds too. Your dad needs to ensure that his levels remain normal in order to prevent diabetic complications. Remember, sometimes we don’t even have symptoms yet damage is being done to the body. Have him check with a dietician in order to set up a healthy meal plan to suit his individual needs and also get him to start an exercise plan, if he doesn’t have one, even walking 30 min 3 X a day will help.

Take care of your Dad I’m sure you love him very much and your concern for his health is very important.

Hope this helps.

QUESTION:
Dear sirs, today I got the blood sugar levels fasting is 135 and PP is 181.?
These readings I got though I am using prescribed medicines by doctor. Now I wanted to know are the levels are dangerous? And also since yesterday I am facing feet burning problem. Is it due to diabetes? If so what to do for immediate relief.

ANSWER:
There are some studies that indicate that blood sugar over 140 mg/dL causes organ damage, but as a qualifier, the amount of time you spend at those levels is probably more determinative of complications. In other words, if you spike to 180, but quickly drop below 140 within an hour or two, then there may not be much damage, if any; however, if you are consistently between 135 and 180 and rarely drop below those levels, then there may be reason to be concerned. Ideally, you would be below 140 mg/dL at one hour after eating and below 120 mg/dL at two hours. If you’re going up as high as 181, then you’re probably eating a lot of carbohydrates. That’s an enormous spike.

As for your feet, you could have something as simple as Athlete’s Foot (fungus), but neuropathy (one of many diabetic complications) can cause burning, aching, pins and needles, and numbness in the feet and hands. Many diabetics report that the neuropathy dissipated once blood sugar levels became controlled. So, if you can drive your numbers down through diet, exercise, and more medication, you might be able to ‘cure’ your neuropathy, or at least lessen it. There are medications that help with neuropathy, too, so talk to your doctor.

QUESTION:
How many sugars do you take in your tea?
I take half a sugar. Most people I know take two.
Unless they’re on a diet, then they cut down to one.

What about you?
No sugar, or dangerous levels of sugar, heading to diabetes country?

ANSWER:
i admit i am 8 yrs old and i NOT allowed 2 drink tea but i still take it and i have 5 teaspoons of sugar and i no that that is NOT good 4 u.well at least i am being honest!!dangerous levels of sugar

QUESTION:
Low blood sugar and anemia during pregnancy?
Hi all! I’m 24-25 weeks pregnant and I just got my lab results back for the hemoglobin/hematocrit and glucose tests. It turns out everything is below the normal range: In other words, my hemoglobin count was below normal (the lowest normal range is 12 and mine was 10.8), the percent (hematocrit) was also low (lowest normal is 36 and mine was 31), and my blood glucose was also below the lowest normal range (it was 68).

I know it’s pretty common for a woman to develop anemia during pregnancy, but are my levels too low? And what about my blood sugar? Everyone seems to worry about gestational diabetes (high sugar levels), but what happens when blood sugar levels are low (hypoglycemia)? Is that equally dangerous?

I’ve tried researching the glucose question, but everything related to pregnancy seems to go back to gestational diabetes… not my case. I have an appointment with my OB/GYN tomorrow, but I just wanted to get some feedback before then in order to ease my mind. Thanks!!!
I have been taking my prenatal vitamins since I found out I was pregnant at 7 weeks. These are supposed to contain the required daily amount of iron for a pregnant woman. However, I read that if you take any iron supplement at the same time as anything that contains calcium, then your body won’t be able to absorb the iron. I’ve been taking my prenatals with my morning coffee w/ milk, so I don’t know if I’ve been cancelling out the iron in the supplement…

ANSWER:
I have the exact same thing when pregnant. For your anemia, I would recommend chlorofil (sp?) which you can find at the health food store, and maybe even at the regular store. You can take up to 6 a day (they’re small), and they brought my hemoglobin up like nothing else, especially in the last few weeks of pregnancy. They are also much easier on your stomach than the iron pills. The iron can upset your stomach and make you sick.
As for the hypoglycemia, I would recommend eating a small protien snack every few hours. Peanut butter with crackers or celery, if you like summer sausage or salami with cheese and crackers. If you feel lightheaded or faint, drink some orange juice.

QUESTION:
allergy and diabetes are dangerous together, and even more dangerous when not knowing what to do?
my 11 year old boy has diabetes type 2. we knew that being sick would raise his sugar levels, so giving him medicine would cure his condition, ( light sore throat ) but for a whole week we didn´t see any improvement in his sugar level, so we took him to the doctor, we just found out boy is allergic to god knows what. he was prescribed medicine but for some reason his sugar level remain high. he usually had his sugar level ok, except when he was sick. don´t know what to do exccept cleaning the whole house and exercise as soon as he wakes up

ANSWER:
I’ve been having a similar problem with my daughter. She’s 2 years old, and a type 1 diabetic. Her blood sugars for the last month have not been consistent at all. She’ll be fine for a week, and then suddenly she’d shoot up into the 400′s and 500′s right before bedtime. Very scary stuff. We’d be fighting highs for 1 – 3 days, and then go back to normal very quickly. Nobody could figure it out, her endo kept asking me if I was letting her snack whenever she wanted. Of course I wasn’t letting her snack, and she wasn’t snacking on her own because I was watching her closely.

So, the last time that happened she started complaining that her eye and nose hurt. We were thinking it was a sinus infection, but no, the doctor said allergies. Not even serious allergies, they’re guessing it’s just a little hay fever, or dust allergy. They aren’t even planning on testing her for it, because it’s so mild. It’s amazing how something so common and mostly harmless can cause a diabetic child so many problems.

Exercise is the key with allergies. I’m trying to get my little girl out more often. I know that when I’m in good shape my allergies are significantly better than if I haven’t been exercising at all. It’s a huge difference. And it’ll help the diabetes too. Your son and my daughter have different types of diabetes, but they are the same in this respect.

QUESTION:
How dangerous is it for a 55 yr/old man with type 2 diabetes who intermittently binge drinks?
Binge drinking meaning 5-8 drinks a day of 80 proof alcohol. Sometimes for 3-5 days at a time, and then quitting for 2 or 3 and then starting over. Blood sugar level stays between 250 and 380. They have also already had two heart attacks in the past 10 years.

ANSWER:
From the National Institutue of Health:

Alcohol Impairs Regulation of Blood Sugar Levels

The sugar glucose is the main energy source for all tissues. Glucose is derived from three sources: from food; from synthesis (manufacture) in the body; and from the breakdown of glycogen, a form of glucose that the body stores in the liver. Hormones help to maintain a constant concentration of glucose in the blood. This is especially important for the brain because it cannot make or store glucose but depends on glucose supplied by the blood. Even brief periods of low glucose levels (hypoglycemia) can cause brain damage.

Two hormones that are secreted by the pancreas and that regulate blood glucose levels are insulin and glucagon. Insulin lowers the glucose concentration in the blood; glucagon raises it. Because prevention of hypoglycemia is vital for the body, several hormones from the adrenal glands and pituitary back up glucagon function.

Alcohol consumption interferes with all three glucose sources and with the actions
of the regulatory hormones. Chronic heavy drinkers often have insufficient dietary intake of glucose (8). Without eating, glycogen stores are exhausted in a few hours (1). In addition, the body’s glucose production is inhibited while alcohol is being metabolized (2). The combination of these effects can cause severe hypoglycemia 6 to 36 hours after a binge- drinking episode (1).

Chronic heavy drinking, in contrast, has been associated with excessive blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). Chronic alcohol abuse can reduce the body’s responsiveness to insulin and cause glucose intolerance in both healthy individuals (11) and alcoholics with liver cirrhosis (12). In fact, 45 to 70 percent of patients with alcoholic liver disease are glucose intolerant or are frankly diabetic (1). In animals, chronic alcohol administration also increases secretion of glucagon and other hormones that raise blood g lucose levels (13).

Alcohol consumption can be especially harmful in people with a predisposition to hypoglycemia, such as patients who are being treated for diabetes (3,4). Alcohol can interfere with the management of diabetes in different ways. Acute as well as chronic alcohol consumption can alter the effectiveness of hypoglycemic medications (14,15). Treatment of diabetes by tight control of blood glucose levels is difficult in alcoholics, and both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic episodes are common (4). In a Japanese study, alcoholics with diabetes had a significantly lower survival rate than other alcoholics (16).

QUESTION:
Is a fasting blood sugar level of 107 dangerous?
I woke up recently on sunday morning and took my blood sugar, as one of my diabetic friends was taking theirs, I hadn’t eaten breakfast and my blood sugar was at 108 my friend said that was quite high or so she thought and asked if I had eaten, I said no, she said that she would take my blood sugar again after dinner and so I ate my two normal meals and about an hour and a half after dinner (close to 2 hours) she took my blood sugar and it was at 81, she said that means that my pancreas is functioning normally, so I don’t have diabetes, but still I’ve been feeling a little scared about that morning reading, today I took it once again in the morning, after not having eaten for 12 hours and came up with a reading of 107. I don’t understand why it’s so high in the morning is this dangerous?

ANSWER:
It is not “dangerous” but a little high. Normally when fasting, your body produces a hormone (glucagon) which in effect raises blood sugar. In other words this is your body’s defence to fasting. However, your body then produces insulin to redress the balance and deal with the increased sugar levels. This way your body’s blood sugar is kept under control. If you have taken two tests (under similar conditions), and your blood sugar level is above 100, your body may not be producing sufficient insulin. A result of 100-126 indicates pre-diabetes. Add to this any family history of diabetes, and it becomes worthwhile seeing your doctor because, at this stage, you can still do things to prevent diabetes developing (e.g. changes in diet, exercise, etc.). By the way, LOW blood sugar (i.e. very low) is generally considered more dangerous than high.

QUESTION:
what is type 1 and 2 diabetes?
which of these is more dangerous? what sugar level can lead to diabetes comma?

ANSWER:
Here are some links on Diabetes…type 1 is juvenile diabetes..type 2 is older people…each person is individually different…no set number on coma levels..just low levels guidelines.

QUESTION:
How do i help my brother with diabetes?
My brother has diabetes and over the last year his hypos have become more and more dangerous, he also has stomoch problems, which is upsetting his sugar levels even more, when he starts having a hypo, he has really bad fits, but the doctors are not understaning how bad they are!! can you give me any advice on how i can help him control them?

ANSWER:
I don’t know what you mean by a “hypo”. Are you talking about diabetic seizures? I’m all too familiar with those, as my husband and brother are both diabetics. I know how scary those episodes can be. If the doctor isn’t paying close attention and monitoring your brother’s blood sugars or helping him control the seizures, I’d get another doctor — preferably an endocrinologist, as they specialize in diabetes and endocrine disorders. The best way to help him is to see that he has the proper medical help. The right doctor can make all the difference in the world. I’ve been there and done that, so I know what you’re going through. Good luck!

QUESTION:
What’s the recommended Daily Intake of sugar?
A 77 yrs old female, has UTI infection. Doctor recommended she uses Cranberry to help with the infection. She buys OceanSpray 100% Cranberry Juice.

Label reads: 100% Jiuce – made from concentrate…..NO sugar added.

Yet the serving info reads: 36 gm sugar per serving! (8 servings per bottle) Lets say she drinks the whole gallon of OceanSpray bottle – adds up to some 300 grams of sugar per bottle/ per day! THATS ALOT OF SUGAR!! Right?

Found contradictory info in many sources on the net: one says maximum sugar intake is 40 gm!!?? Others say: 400gm – ‘as long as it is not pure raw sugar! Meaning: sugars in fruits, starch, carbohydrates, even juice concentrates are “OK”.

What are the facts about recommended daily intake of sugars? Is drinking entire gallon of this OceanSpray stuff OK – or dangerous, sugar level wise!

Note: she already has type 2 diabetes – and thats problematic in itself!
Cammie. Then whats the best drink/juice for those with mild/type 2 diabetes. Thank you!

ANSWER:
Fruit has sugar in it.
We count carbs and a 300 carb beverage is way out of line.
It doesn’t matter where the carbs come from.
I would never drink anything with 36 carbs per serving.
Juice is not always the best option for those of us with diabetes.

There are low calorie cranberry juices and diet juices.
You are correct: always count carbs.

QUESTION:
My blood sugar is 145: dangerous?
I have diabetes, types 1 AND 2, in my family. So today my uncle tested all our blood levels and mine is 145. Is that dangerous? Should I be concerned? Any precautions I should take?

ANSWER:
145 is at the optimal high level however it is not in danger yet. As your family are diabetes please be careful as it is a heritage. The first thing is to avoid all sweet things like can drinks and sweets. sweet fruits is okay. And more important is to start exercising everyday Than you have to watch your diet. All these are the important things to do to prevent your blood sugar content to go up. Take care

QUESTION:
will my diabetes kill me/ is it easy to control?
i was diagnosed with diabetes type 1 only a month ago.

I am 15 years old, right now im not even on insulin because they say im in the honeymoon phase and my pancreas will produce insulin for a short or long period of time.

Once it stop if it does, will it get harder to control my sugar levels?

also people are saying type 1 is way more dangerous because your sugar levels are all over the place since your body doesn’t produce insulin at all, but with type 2 your body still makes some.

its a very scary disease for me and im having a lot of difficulty dealing with it. I am terrified of things that the disease can do. such as cause blindness, loose limbs, pass out, seizure, coma, ETC…

i know the doctor says i can live a long life, but how is that possible if there’s all these bad things to worry about?

i feel like if i ever went blind from this disease i would be so depressed. I am terrified of going blind. If i went blind i feel like it would just ruin my whole entire life. I mean who wants to live blind. No one. and from what i hear they cant even fix it so your just blind forever. Also if i play games such as xbox 360 a lot, is it more bad for my eyes since i am a diabetic. Because i play everyday and i don’t want it to make me go blind.

ANSWER:
Hey Victor,

I went (am currently going through) a similar thing to you. I was diagnosed just before my 18th birthday and it sucks. I was scared to eat anything because my doctor was still trying to figure out which type I was so I wasn’t taking anything to treat it. It turns out it was type one and that I needed insulin. Once I started using insulin, I found I could eat almost anything that I would eat before I was diabetic, I just had to watch myself.

Once you stop honeymooning, it gets a little rough because you’re still trying to figure out how much insulin you need. Just this past week, my insulin requirements doubled, then they fell back down. It can be a roller coaster sometimes. But it will be okay as long as you stay prepared. Never be caught without food in case if you get low.

The long term effects of diabetes are scary. They aren’t immediate though. Meaning if you’re blood sugar sits at 400 for an hour, you’re not going to go blind. However, if you sit at 250 for weeks/months, you’re vision will probably progressively worsen.

I think you’ll do great. I could talk to you for hours about it, but I have school work to tend to. In the future, I strongly recommend looking into an insulin pump. They make you’re life so much easier and they help control you’re blood sugar a whole lot better. The best part is they record everything for you and do the math for you.

If you want, feel free to email me with more questions. I’d be happy to answer them. blueb2233@aol.com. It might take me awhile to get back because I don’t use that account very often.

QUESTION:
My boyfriend and his diabetes (type 1) + job… help! (i guess this is a health and relationship question)?
My boyfriend (Sam) is 22 and has had Type 1 Diabetes since he was 3. About 1 year into our relationship, he never really took care of his diabetes properly (i.e. no exercise, bad sleeping patterns, eating the wrong food). It look an 11 day stay in the hospital in December for him to realise what he was doing wrong. He had severe diabetic acidosis at the time (dangerous high blood sugar level) When he came out of hospital, he started taking his insulin properly (4 times a day as reccomended by his doctor) and eating and exercising.
Now there’s a problem. He’s going back to bad habits as currently he is jobless. He keeps saying he’s trying to find a job but it’s getting no where. Now he’s at home all the time, eating wrong and sleeping all day and not sleeping all night. And because he started eating alot out of boredom, he decided without consulting his doctor, to increase his insulin unit from 14 to 24.
Because of this, 2 nights ago he had a dangerous low sugar attack. He had an seizure and was being violent and I almost lost him that night. We had to call the paramedics and they said had I left it any longer or not been there, he would’ve for sure been dead. He doesn’t seem to understand how I feel about this. I’ve hardly slept since then because I’m scared it will happen again.
I don’t mean to be pushy with him, but he constantly talks about wanting a future with me, yet, how can that happen if he doesn’t start looking after himself. In 3 months (I am living with my parents) my parents will be retiring and leaving the country and I want to stay behind because of my job. Sam had plans that we would move in together and start a life together. But cause of his current situation, that’s not possible and now I have to share an apartment with another friend. I don’t know if he’s really trying to get himself together or not. I know we are in times of recession, but it doesn’t stop you from really trying to find a job. He’s been jobless 6 months now. At the same time, he doesn’t look after his health. Even with all this, he keeps talking about our future together (i.e. wedding, apartment.. )
What should I do? Do you think he is even responsible? I feel I can only help him to an extent without doing things for him as I have my own life to plan aswell. Am I being a bad girlfriend? Is it even wrong that I’m constantly worried about his health?? I just don’t want to wake up to find him dead. I’ve lost 2 nights of sleep.
Don’t get me wrong, Sam treats me like a princess. It’s just he’s so stubborn and won’t even have regular check ups for his diabetes and 6 months without a job is a long time.
What can I do??? I feel sooo lost….

ANSWER:
Perhaps you should remind him…..or tell him if he doesn’t already know that one of the conditions of uncontrolled diabetes and unhealthy lifestyle and diet is Erectile Dysfunction! It would be pretty sad for both of you if at age 22, sexual intercourse became something he could only do in his dreams and imagination!
He thinks he’s infallible and is acting very irresponsible and he’s probably going to have to learn the hard way!
I wouldn’t even consider marriage and a future with him until he takes his disease seriously and starts looking after himself. As for you….I know you love him but do you really want to be a widow by the time you’re 15?……..because that’s where things are headed. You can’t MAKE him change. You just have to decide if you’re willing to hang around and watch him physically decline until his heart stops!….and it will!

QUESTION:
Type 1 diabetes and pregnancy…. very concerned?
HELLO EVERYONE, I AM HERE BECAUSE I THINK I MIGHT BE PREGNANT AND WILL DO WHATEVER TO KEEP THIS BABY MY PROBLEM IS THAT I AM A 23 YEAR OLD TYPE 1 DIABETIC WHO HAS NOT BEEN TAKING CARE OF HERSELF FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. I KNOW , SHAME ON ME, IT WAS A STUPID MISTAKE. MY SUGAR LEVELS ARE REALLY HIGH, AND I RECENTLY STARTED TAKING INSULIN AGAIN (ABOUT 5 DAYS AGO). IF I AM PREGNANT, I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A HEALTHY BABY. I KNOW THAT HIGH SUGAR LEVELS ARE VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE BABY BUT I WANT TO KNOW IF ITS TOO LATE TO START EATING HEALTHIER AND CONTROL THE BLOOD SUGAR. HAS ANYONE BEEN THROUGH THIS N HAD A HEALTHY BABY??? I AM REALLY WORRIED AND KNOW IVE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE BY NOT TAKING CARE OF MYSELF. PLEASE, ANY ADVISE WILL HELP. AND YES, I KNOW I SHOULD GO TO THE DR, I AM GOING THIS MONDAY. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP N FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS.

ANSWER:
Please stop YELLING .
You need to contact a Perinatal groups to care for you and your baby.
These special doctors work with women who are in hi risk pregnancies.

Like the person above me said, you cannot have type 1 and not take insulin for over a year and not die.

I’m not sure what your story is.

QUESTION:
I don’t understand why you must avoid sugar if you’re hypoglycemic..can someone explain…?
I may have hypoglycemia (without diabetes)
My doctor told me if I do end up having this to avoid saturated sugars..
I don’t understand… wouldn’t sugar help?
It is low blood SUGAR..
arent you supposed to eat alot of sugar if your levels drop to a dangerous level…
I dont know… I’m confused..
can someone help me understand?

ANSWER:
Hypoglycemia is often a precursor to diabetes. It indicates that your body’s insulin system is off, which is why your sugar is dropping too low.

The doctor wants you to avoid sugar because he doesn’t want your insulin response to be overworked, which can lead to actual diabetes. It’s a preventative measure.

Most of the people I know with Type II diabetes (the kind you get as an adult) started off with hypoglycemia. My brother had it for years before he actually became diabetic.

Everyone’s sugar fluctuates during the day. I have some health problems which make me feel really sick to my stomach sometimes, so I don’t feel like eating, and when I don’t eat, my sugar levels drop. I have to eat something to bring them back up, or I just feel worse. (None of my problems are related to sugar levels or anything like that.)

It sounds like yours is constantly running low, or the doctor wouldn’t be considering a diagnosis of hypoglycemia. Regular hypoglycemia is not like a normal drop from not eating–it’s a problem where your body isn’t self regulating the way it should, and your blood glucose is constantly low. Eating sugar constantly isn’t a fix for the problem–it just makes your body release more insulin. Your body is probably already secreting more than it should. So controlling what goes in will help your body get a grip on the insulin problem. It’s easier to try and fix blood glucose problems before they develop into something worse, like diabetes. That’s why your doctor asked you to avoid it.

I hope that makes sense.

QUESTION:
Can I drink or not with diabetes?
everything i read says alcohol lowers blood sugar levels, so what does that hurt if my levels are normally on the high side(140-170)? i looked up drug interactions with glipizide and metformin, and they make it sound pretty dangerous to drink with. so if i dont take the pills and drink instead, will it even out? if not,is there a medicine i could switch to that doesnt react with beer?

ANSWER:
I take metformin and I asked my Dr. about drinking. He said no problem. There is a warning on the label, so I asked the pharmacist about it too and she said just not to excess.

Some drinks have quite a bit of sugar in them. Those are to be avoided. Otherwise, moderate drinking is okay. The alcohol breaks down into glucose, so it will raise your blood sugar a little. ‘Lite’ beer is the best (but why bother!) The worst is syrupy tropical drinks with lots of fruit juice or sugary liqueurs in them.

QUESTION:
Help With Diabetes?
My bf was diagnosed with diabetes in May, type one, and he’s just turned 14 and is finding it hard to cope.
I want to help and support him, but I know nothing about diabetes, except it affects the blood sugar levels.

So, can someone tell me some basic things, like what he should be eating, how often he should be injecting, checking sugar levels and at what times. what should his levels be at different times of the day?
How low is dangerous, and how high is dangerous?
Anything else that is important?

Thank-You. =]

ANSWER:
Wow, your bf is lucky to have such a caring gf!

My son is now 15 and has had type 1 for about a year and a half. It is very difficult and turns your world upside down for awhile…until you get used to it. Diabetes is overwhelming and scary at first–but it does get easier with time and experience.

The key is striking a balance between insulin, diet and exercise. It is not easy and sometimes my son gets frustrated–he just wants to be a normal guy! Try not to nag–I know it’s hard for me not to nag my son about testing, insulin injections, etc. I have had to learn to strike a balance too–in letting him handle it himself and being responsible for him as a parent.

The really good thing about diabetes is that as long as you take care of it first, you can do anything you want. But if you ignore the condition, it can be devastating.

Your bf should test his blood sugar when he wakes up in the morning, before meals and exercise and before he goes to sleep at night. He’ll want to strive to be in a target range, usually between 110 and 150 (his dr. will know for sure). Also, he should have a small snack before bed to ensure his blood sugar does not drop too low during the night.

The lows are more dangerous than the highs and require immediate attention. Anything below 70 is too low and he’ll need a fast-acting source of sugar on hand: orange juice or regular soda is best. He’ll need to test again after 15 minutes to make sure his blood sugar has risen and then he’ll need to eat a good meal.

Depression is common in newly-diagnosed diabetics. My son doesn’t know anyone else with the disease…your boyfriend might want to look into joining an on-line supprt group–I think it would make a tremendous difference for him.

Good luck to him! And both of you can take your time and read as much as you can about the disease.

QUESTION:
Diabetes home testing?
I think I might have diabetes but I’m not sure. I’d rather test at home to see so I don’t go to the doctor and end up not having it. I’d like to at least be able to know if my blood sugar is high. So I want to buy a blood glucose meter and stuff today.
Anyone can buy that stuff, right? I don’t think there would be but are there any restrictions on who can buy it? I only ask because I know there are restrictions on other things that you wouldn’t normally think about.
So I know that if it’s 126 or higher, then I’m diabetic (and yes, I know to test after fasting for 8 hours). But what blood sugar level is actually considered dangerous? Like…what level is actually considered hyperglycemic? If it’s extremely high, can you have a seizure? At what level? How high would it have to be to go in a coma?

ANSWER:
Yes, go ahead and buy it . It’s much cheaper than a doctors visit. My mother would pass out when Blood sugar reached 600.
Many may disagree , but we want to catch diabetes in it earliest stages , don’t we ?

Normal Fasting Blood Sugar
A normal fasting blood sugar (which is also the blood sugar a normal person will see right before a meal) is:

83 mg/dl (4.6 mmol/L) or less.

Many normal people have fasting blood sugars in the mid and high 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/L) range.

Though most doctors will tell you any fasting blood sugar under 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) is “normal”, there are several studies that suggest that testing with a fasting blood sugar in the mid 90 mg/dl (5 mmol/L) range often predicts diabetes that is diagnosed a decade later.
Post-Meal Blood Sugar (Postprandial)
Independent of what they eat, the blood sugar of a truly normal person is:

Under 120 mg/dl (6.6 mmol/L) one or two hours after a meal.

Most normal people are under 100 mg/dl (5.5 mmol/L) two hours after eating.
If you get a higher reading than normal , then do this check.
If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, but suspect you might have something wrong with your blood sugar, there is a simple way to find out.
What you need to do is to test your blood sugar after you have eaten a meal that contains about sixty grams of carbohydrates.
To run a post-meal blood sugar test do following:
Borrow a family member’s meter or buy an inexpensive meter and strips at the drug store or Wal-Mart. The Wal-mart Relion meter store brand meters sold at pharamcies like CVS, Walgreens, etc are usually the least expensive.

Some meters come with 10 free strips. Check to see if the meter you have bought includes strips. If it doesn’t, buy 25 or 50–whichever is the smallest size available. Strips do not keep for very long once opened, so don’t buy more than you need for a couple tests.

Familiarize yourself with the instructions that came with your meter so that you know how to run a blood test. Practice a few times before you run your official test. Each meter is different. Be sure you understand how yours works.

The first thing in the morning after you wake up but before you have eaten anything, test your blood sugar. Write down the result. This is your “fasting blood sugar.”

Now eat something containing at 60 – 70 grams of fast acting carbohydrate. A bagel makes a good test food. If you can’t eat wheat, a large (8 oz) boiled potato of a cup of cooked white rice will do. Avoid fats as they will slow down the action of the carbohydrate.

One hour after you started eating, test your blood sugar with the meter. Write down the result. If you lose track of the time measure as soon as possible. The numbers will still be useful.

Two hours after you started eating test your blood sugar again. Write down the result.

Three hours after you started eating, test your blood sugar. Write down the result. You are now done and can eat whatever you want.

Normal Blood Sugar
If your blood sugar reading remained under 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) at the one hour test and all the later tests, you have completely normal blood sugar and can stop worrying about it.
If your blood sugar did not reach 140 mg/dl (7.7 mmol/L) an hour after taking a large dose of carbohydrates and if it was below 120 mg/dl (6.7 mmol/L) two hours after you ate the large dose of carbohydrate, most health authorities would also say that you are normal. These numbers, 140 mg/dl at 1 hour and 120 mg/dl at two hours after a meal are what Joslin Diabetes Clinic of Harvard Medical School defines as upward limit of “normal.”

If your blood sugar is at the very top of this normal range, near 140 mg/dl (7.7 mmol/L) and near 120 mg/dl at two hours, you may have a very slight amount of either beta cell dysfunction or insulin resistance going on. If you are at the high end of the normal range, especially if you are noticing that you are gaining weight more easily than you used to, it might be a good idea to cut back on the amount of carbohydrate you eat and begin an exercise program.
For complete info on this test:http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14046889.php

Take care

tin

QUESTION:
Gestational Diabetes during Pregnancy?
I went through the Glucose test and my doctor just called to tell me that my sugar level is at 160 and she would like me to go for a 3 hour test this time. I want to know how many women had gestational diabetes and is it really dangerous for the baby. I have been craving alot of sweets, fruits and fruit juices but now I’m scared to consume any of that. Any suggestions or alternatives to help calm my cravings and still not elevate my diabetes?

ANSWER:
Depending on what you ate the day of your first Glucose test. That can make a difference. Before you have your 3 hour test you have to fast overnight, then drink the stuff again and start your 3 hour blood draws. Since you will have nothing in your system you could be fine. If your sugar is still high, then you will be counseled on what to eat, and nutrition. gestational diabetes is highly common in pregnancy. As long as you learn what to eat and proper nutrition, your sugar will be under control, and everything should be fine.

QUESTION:
Diabetes and lantus?
I was diagnosed with diabetes two weeks ago, and I’m taking 50 units of lantus every night at 11pm. Last night an hour after taking my lantus I checked my blood sugar and it was 46 which is way too low, I think they have me on too high of a dose, I’m afraid that at night my blood sugar is going to drop to dangerous levels (I’m not overweight). My next appointment with the doctor isn’t until the 20th, any advice is appreciated.

ANSWER:
Hi, I think you need to call your doctor right away. Don’t risk waiting for your next appointment.

I take 75 units of Lantus at bedtime. During the day, I take NovoLog (asparte) 35 units, before each meal. That is a fast-acting insulin that lasts about 2 hours, long enough for me to process my meals.

These amounts & types of insulin work fine for me; but I’ve had Diabetes for 6 years (Type 1). In the beginning, it was a bit of a roller coaster ride, with doses and/or types of insulin changing every few days & weeks. Finally, we got my glucose levels settled down just fine. Of course, there is the occasional time I will become hypoglycemic. By now, I usually know before checking that I’m too low — hands start shaking, heart races, back of neck gets sweaty, feel nauseated or feel unusually hungry, or I get spaced out.

You’ve been diagnosed only 2 weeks ago. You’ll have to expect a certain amount of changes until the doctor & you find a good balance with your insulin. For me, at this point, I make my own adjustments with my insulin. Not my Lantus, since that is a 24-hour baseline insulin; but the NovoLog that I take before meals I can change. If I know I am about to eat a much larger meal than usual or a meal that is heavy on the carbs, I will raise my insulin to 40 or 45 units. Conversely, if all I’m going to eat is a yogurt, then I drop my insulin to about 25 or 20.

Don’t just wait for appointments if you see your insulin is not lowering your levels enough or if you are in the situation you are now. Medically, you technically become hypoglycemic when you go under 50, which you did. But in reality, you are likely to experience hypo symptoms anywhere from 70 down.

You should have on hand, near your bed, some glucose tablets or gel, which can be bought in any pharmacy or store that sells diabetes products. This way, if you see your levels are too low, you have fast treatment. If you see you are hypoglycemic, take 15 mgs of glucose gel (one tube) or tablets. Wait 15 minutes & check your levels again. If you are out of the woods, you want to stay that way, so you then need protein. Eat one-half of a sandwich; peanut butter does it for me. The protein from the PB combined with the carbs of the one slice of bread, keep my numbers from falling down again.

It’s very likely that your level of Lantus is too high for you. Let me just throw out a question for you — did you eat dinner that night? If you didn’t, then it may not be that the Lantus is too high. If you did eat, well…. Also, you didn’t mention if you take a fast-acting insulin during the day, before meals. I don’t know anyone who only takes Lantus. But if that’s all you need at this point, well, that’s great!

How often do you check your glucose levels? I check mine 12 times a day. That’s because I do “tight control,” where you keep your levels between 80 and 130. That’s not for beginners, though You should check as soon as you wake up, before each meal, 2 hours after you eat (2 hrs. from when you start eating), and at bedtime. Also, you need to check before you exercise/do sports and after you finish (excuse me if I’m repeating stuff your doctor already told you).

Don’t worry about calling the doctor every day if you have to, at this point. The doctor won’t mind; Diabetes is serious, and it will be up to you to control it.

I would suggest keeping a Diabetes Journal between now & your next appointment, and the next few after that. In it, you want to put your glucose levels & the time of day & the situation — dawn; before breakfast; 2 hours after breakfast (and the other 2 meals); before Lantus; and whenever else you check it. Many doctors ask you to do this; it gives her/him and you a picture of how your numbers are doing. Maybe the levels will show you need less Lantus but something before meals, for example, who knows yet.

Since you are newly diagnosed, I would strongly suggest you buy one or two books about Diabetes. I learned far more from the books than I did from the doctors, it’s sad to say. But if I did learn something that I felt applied to me & would be better for me, I brought the information to my doctors. They always went along with what I learned. You can call the ADA ( American Diabetes Association) and they will send you a catalogue of books, or any good bookstore should have some.

Just a thought — if you were just diagnosed 2 weeks ago, I hope you have an Endocrinologist, because they are the experts on Diabetes; all the types of insulins & dosages, equipment, insulin pens and insulin pumps, etc. Also, they will be connected to a Diabetes Educator who can help you with any lifestyle changes, i.e., food, exercise.

Best of luck to you.

QUESTION:
Hi…I’m a stupid teenage girl that wants to get in touch with Nick Jonas so that I can get married to him?
I don’t want to marry him at all…in fact…I didn’t even want to meet him till about 30 seconds ago.
But you know how he has diabetes and all that crap…well I have it too…and guess what…I just got an invitation to hospital with one of the most dangerous sugar levels my hospital has seen for 6 years…and guess what?! I need some help otherwise I’m gonna get a failed liver, kidney and probably gunna have something wrong with everything else…
So if any of you can help me get in touch with the only person I know that has the slightest idea of how I’m feeling right now…which to be honest is pretty crap (for want of a RUDER word)…then please can you help me.
And don’t give me any of that crap about me using it as an excuse because I really couldn’t care less what you think right now…if you do say anything like that then you are one of the mose harsh, small minded people I’ve met in my life.
To those of you who are diabetic and know what a hba1c is..let me give you a little clue on how serious this actually is…mine came through as 16…good isn’t it!
Sorry if I seem like a b***h but I’m sort of scared s**tless right now…
So please can you help me…
Thankyou to the poeple who are taking this seriously…
I wish people would read questions before they post answers…

ANSWER:
There are many, many people who know exactly what you’re going through. I’m one of them. Instead of trying to achieve an impossible dream, try finding a support group in your area for diabetics. When I was first diagnosed (many years ago), that’s what I did and it helped immensely.

Yes, you are out of control right now, diabetes wise. However, you CAN get back on the right track before it’s too late. I went through a phase like that…so did many others.

You need to find someone you can actually TALK to. Find that support group. You can ask your doctor or check with your local hospital. One final point…if your sugars are that bad, look into getting an insulin pump. Ask your doctor. I have one and I absolutely love it. My control is much better and I feel great.

EMT
Type 1, insulin pumper

QUESTION:
Is a high-protein diet dangerous for diabetics?
On the one hand, one would think that a high-protein, low-carb diet would actually be the best diet for diabetics because meat, fish, and dairy products do not require (much) insulin and minimally impact resting blood sugar levels. On the other hand, one of the most common long-term complications from diabetes is kidney failure, and over time a protein-rich diet would place heavy demands on kidney functioning because of waste filtration of animal products. Any thoughts?

ANSWER:
I can give you a personal example of a very high protien (Adkins) diet where I actually had to stop taking my insulin because I was not eating enough carbs. I thought to myself that this is very odd, because I am a T1 and I have to take insulin to carry fuel to my cells for processing.

I would suggest a low carb (and right carb) diet. Do not follow Adkins, but something like South Beach where it teaches you the correct carbs for your body.

Good luck.

QUESTION:
Who still believes that drinking alcohol raises a diabetic’s blood glucose?
After reading these statements taken from reputable websites:

“This is why drinking as little as 2 ounces of alcohol (about 2 drinks) on an empty stomach can lead to very low blood sugar.”

http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/alcohol.jsp

A heterogeneous bunch of answers, so far. I’m not totally convinced of this myself, but the explanation given by the American Diabetes Association makes more sense than the positions taken by those of you who don’t have any reinforcement other than hearsay evidence. Come on, you guys… cough up some science.

ANSWER:
I don’t believe it raises blood sugar. Not only does it not raise the blood sugar levels for my husby or me (both Type II), but my husby the biologist states, “One, alcohol is NOT a sugar (yes it contains carbs, but check the label – very little) and two, alcohol enhances insulin activity.”

QUESTION:
Target sugar level chart for child?
I am trying to find a chart of target sugar levels for a child, as well as too high too low. We are testing my daughter for the next week and a half. My doctor is on vacation and while I am testing I would like to know the range we are shooting for. My mother in law has it and I know how dangerous it can be, does anyone know or have a link to an actual chart for kids. She is 7 and I can only find information on diabetes not the chart like my mother in law has. My doctor mentioned it is different for kids, and no one else at the clinic wants to address this, they all want it to be her doctor.
We are testing her for diabetes but my doctor is on vacation and no one will give me info they said it needs to be from her, but the walk in tested her and said it was high and wanted us to monitor her at home until the dr. gets back but would not give me a specific range. This morning it was 119 and 2 hours after breakfast was only 68, I called and they said just keep a record but would not give me specifics, it is very frustrating. She had a bladder infection that is cleared but is still going too often, she also drinks a ton of water but always has, she has been tested before but this is the first time it showed high, they said it was 119 and that was too high for them, so I am kind of at a stand still until my doctor gets back. Thanks for answering and info helps.

ANSWER:
Normal sugar levels for kids are the same as for adults. Fasting levels should be 70 – 100, and 1.5 to 2 hours after a meal should be under 140. Random tests, no matter how long ago you ate, or what was eaten, should be under 180. Your daughter’s levels may go up and down faster than an adults, especially if she is an active child, but it shouldn’t be a problem for her. Hope this helps!

QUESTION:
bf doesnt look after his diabetes advice please?
my bf has had diabetes since he was around 17 says its type one but produces tiny bit insulin still…..hes on rapid acting insulin and has to inject four times a day……..the thing is he doesnt look after it right he says in the begining he did but had a hard time accepting it and just doesnt do what he should be doing……ive been with him 6 months nows and i could see myself with him for a long time but in this six months hes been in hospital twice with it…….both as he had neglected it……he never takes his blood sugar levels and just injects which i think is pretty stupid and dangerous? this morning he said he went into hypo and im never done hearing he is going into hypo and his sister has to help him …….hes always all over the place and doesnt look after it ive tried to help him remind him to take jags the lot and to be honest i cant go on with the worry anymore and really dont no what to do? i cant be with some1 my whole life who wont look after there health what do i do thanks

ANSWER:
Your boyfriend is an adult and needs to take responsibility for his own health. It is nice that you are worried about him, but he really has to take the responsibility himself. Diabetes relies very much on self-management; it is not something that other people can do for you.

You are right to question your long-term prospects with someone who won’t look after their own health. To be honest, the way he is going, his long term prospects do not look good. Diabetes by itself is not that bad. It is uncontrolled diabetes that causes all the horrible long term complications like blindness, amputation and kidney disease, not to mention early death. Not looking after his diabetes means that he is heading towards all of that sooner rather than later.

QUESTION:
gestational diabetes….fasting reading 100mg/dl or 5.5 mmo/l…..i am 39 weeks pregnant and baby is 4kg?
hi all…….i have gestational diabetes and my fasting glucose level is around 100 mg/dl or 5.5 mmol/l. is this a dangerous reading of glucose level….doctor told this is the marginal level for sugar glucose and i am controlling my sugal level with food, excercise and small units of insulin injection.
Now I am 39 weeks pregnant and and did ultrasound scanning and found out baby is 4kg (8.8 pounds)…..i am literally scared about my gestational diabetes and I wanted to know how this is going to effect my baby after his birth? Please read the following questions and do give me a answer…

1.whether my glucose reading is fine……..
2. how my gestational diabetes going to effect my baby after birth.
3. Now the scan report seems to very normal and my baby is perfectly fine..but i am scared about after his birth….how he is going to effected because of my glucose level.

only my fasting glucose level seems to be high….all post meals glucose reading always used to be under 120mg/dl.
fasting glucose level..that is after 8 hours of previous night dinner…..that reading is 100 mgdl

ANSWER:
I had Gestational Diabetes with my 4th pregnancy. The fasting glucose reading of 100 is on the high side, but not dangerously so. It is a possible indicator that you need an adjustment of your insulin. Since you are very near to the end of your pregnancy a few more days or a couple more weeks of this is not going to be cause for great alarm. After the birth of your baby, it is most likely that he will be just fine. He will have several blood tests to check his glucose numbers, but most babies don’t show any signs of problems. He may have hypoglycemia, low blood sugar, but beginning to nurse right away usually takes care of that. Rarely babies born to moms with GD require some IV glucose solution to balance the glucose numbers. There may be some jaundice that develops, but this is normal for babies born to moms without GD as well. It is easily treated and not generally cause for concern. While there is an increased risk of higher than normal birth weight for babies born to moms with GD, it is not a given. The baby I had when I had GD was born at 41 weeks and weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces. They predicted (via ultrasound) that she would weigh over 8 pounds, but ultrasound weight predictions can be off. Typically the biggest problem is a large baby which can cause vaginal delivery problems so some doctors recommend an induction if the baby is getting too large and sometimes a c-section is necessary if the baby develops macrosomia, which basically is just a large baby with a big shoulders that make vaginal delivery potentially problematic. After your baby is born, specifically after the placenta is delivered, the Gestational Diabetes should go away soon after. GD is caused by pregnancy hormones that make your cells insulin resistant. The hormones are made by the placenta so as soon as that is gone, your cells return to normal in most cases. You will be at greater risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes later in life and will want to be monitored and try to keep your weight down and exercise. My youngest is now 10 and I was diagnosed last year with Glucose Intolerance, a pre-diabetic condition, so I am back eating with a specific meal plan in order to ward of Type 2 as long as possible.

QUESTION:
gestational diabetes….fasting reading 100mg/dl or 5.5 mmo/l…..i am 39 weeks pregnant and baby is 4kg?
hi all…….i have gestational diabetes and my fasting glucose level is around 100 mg/dl or 5.5 mmol/l. is this a dangerous reading of glucose level….doctor told this is the marginal level for sugar glucose and i am controlling my sugal level with food, excercise and small units of insulin injection.
Now I am 39 weeks pregnant and and did ultrasound scanning and found out baby is 4kg (8.8 pounds)…..i am literally scared about my gestational diabetes and I wanted to know how this is going to effect my baby after his birth? Please read the following questions and do give me a answer…

1.whether my glucose reading is fine……..
2. how my gestational diabetes going to effect my baby after birth.
3. Now the scan report seems to very normal and my baby is perfectly fine..but i am scared about after his birth….how he is going to effected because of my glucose level.

only my fasting glucose level seems to be high….all post meals glucose reading always used to be under 120mg/dl.

ANSWER:
100 is a very normal level
At 39 weeks your baby is ready to come out.
Since you were dxed with gestational diabetes, they may put the baby into the NICU to check his/her blood sugars.
Babies with diabetic mothers tend to be big and may have very low sugars and will need IV sugar.Usually at 24 hours- this is resolved.
Ask your doctor everything.She knows all about it.
Congratulations.

QUESTION:
What is wrong with me???????
Back in september I noticed I was urinating more frequently, and I immeaditly saw a doctor. He did took a urine sample, and did a blood test to check for diabetes or bacteria in my urine. There was no bacteria and my sugar level was 86. There is no burning, discomfort, pain, blood, or pus when I urinate. It’s like normal, but I do it more often. The first time I went in he gave me antibiotic assuming it could be a prostate infection. When I was half way through the medication I had to stop because I was having very negative side effects. For a week it seemed to go away, but then it started back up. So I went back and he put me on a new antibotic, and it didn’t really seem to do anything. I mean, I didn’t urinate as much, but I still have that urge. He said it couldn’t be prostate cancer because i’m only 19 and it’s very rare for someone my age to get it, and I have none of the symptoms. I called this morning and asked if it could be a urinary tract infection, but he said they would have found bacteria in my urine sampel. It can’t be diabetes because he said my blood sugar level was completely normal, and I doubt my blood sugar could raise to such a dangerous level in such short time. This is driving me crazy and I can’t figure out what’s wrong with me. I’ve never had this problem before.

My symptoms include:
-Frequent urination
-Contious urge to urinate
-Lower back pain(i’ve had this for a long time, but it seems worse)
-Groin pains(once or twice, but it wasn’t bad)

Can anyone shed some light on my situation, this is really starting to bug me.

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
do i have diabetes?
i have never been check for diabetes but it runs in my family i bought a test to test my sugar level it was 160 i was told to test when i wake up i did 160 again is this dangerous should i be worried what made me do this is i have had a rash between my legs can not get rid of and boils been comeing up on me

ANSWER:
This will be a good supplement to what do I know’s comment:

For type I and type II diabetics.

I’ve found a wonderful book that will help you control your diabetes and minimize or even eliminate the complications. I’m a type II,but it helps both types, especially us type IIs. It’s by an author who has really done his homework. I have tried his suggestions and found them to be very helpful. I have no complications whatsoever and my blood sugar levels are quite stable. Yes, I still have to take Metformin (Glucophage) daily, but it’s the minimum dosage (500mg) and I only have to take it twice a day.

It explains what’s going on in our system and what to do about it. It’s really easy and inexpensive. It’s basically supplements and
exercise. For example, did you know that cinnamon helps blood sugar absorbtion? It also controls cholesterol and triglycerides, too. This is according to the USDA.

For men: Are you suffering from erectile dysfunction? I was. Yes, was. Now that everything’s under control I’m able to have nearly
normal sex again.

Read more about it here:

http://www.diabetesimprovement.com/

I’ve also put together a little webpage highlighting some of the things I’ve learned here:

http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/Type_II_Diabetes.html

Here’s another great health site with all kinds of general health information:

http://www.chetday.com

QUESTION:
Cinnamon and gestational diabetes?
I’ve been reading about how type 2 diabetics and gestational diabetics may be able to take 1g of cinnamon a day to help bring down the fasting glucose number (which is the only number I have that is not submitting to my exercise and diet.) I have also read that if you eat 100g or more of cinnamon a week it can cause behavioral problems in the child later in life. But I can’t find any sources that say to avoid cinnamon altogether or that 7g a week would be a dangerous amount.

1g=1/5 teaspoon in case you’re wondering. Pretty easy to sprinkle on some toast or in my cereal basically. And if it brought down the blood sugar level then it would be good for the baby in that way. Has anyone else heard of using cinnamon for gestational diabetes or have any other research saying why we should avoid cinnamon even in that small amount?
I got the same email. But it doesn’t answer my question, as it avoids gestational diabetes (or even type 2 diabetes) entirely.

ANSWER:
i am borderline gestational diabetes and have been able to control my fasting glucose reading by having one sprinkle of cinnamon a day.
I either have it on my oats for breakfast, or in my coffee at morning tea.

QUESTION:
Wat is this state of diabetes? Is it damn serious?
I am a 28 year old vegetarian male from India, working in middle east in construction industry. I have calcified pancreatis since last 12 years and it is correctly identified only 2 years ago. Since last 9 months i am on insulin injections twice a day (Mixtard 30 Novolet- 12 units in the morning and 10 units in the night). I am avoiding sweet completely and using a small amount of rice daily, however, planning to avoid rice completely. My random blood sugar levels are moving around 130 to 170mg/dl. My height is 5 feet (152cms) and weight is 36 kg. Since last 4 days my left knee is paining and since yesterday my right hand joint is paining. What is going on? Am i reaching a serious and dangerous state? Any advise? I will be going to doctor, still I need advises from people who have different experiences in the field of diabetics.
Thanks in advance
I am working in construction industry as an engineer and i am not working at the site, spending most of the time inside the office

ANSWER:
Diabetes can be managed as you already know. It is certainly serious if ignored but you are treating it. Only a doctor can say if the pain is related. You work in construction and that may be the cause of your pain. Most people with diabetes who watch their diet and exercise live a normal lifespan but may develop a few conditions that will have to be watched.

QUESTION:
question about diabetes?
is it true, that going low is alot more dangerous than being high with the blood sugar level?

i know that going low can mean coma, death and all those nice things, but what about having too much?
thanks for the answers so far, but i do not have diabetes, i was just curious

ANSWER:
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)can destroy your kidneys, eyes(blindness) cause peripheral neuropathy and heart disease.
In other words both can be dangerous to your well being.If you have type 2 diabetes you may be able to control it with diet, exercise and by losing weight.
If you have type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent) you need to take insulin for life
I hope I helped alittle
Good luck

QUESTION:
My gramothers blood sugar is dangerously high?
my Gramother has diabetes 2 and lives with my family. I live by myself, so i can’t watch her 24/7 like my mother can. I feel like i have no control on whats happening? Just now my mother told me her blood sugar is about 235. I know this is a very dangerous level. I love my grams so much and i don’t want to lose her in life or in a nursing home. because that what the doctor said would happen if mom can’t get grams blood sugar under control she will take her to a nursing home.
I wouldn’t mind but i’m a little stereotype about nursing homes. my gramother was an orphan in the great depression and dealt with a lot of abuse in the orpahan. if the same thing happen to her in a nursing home it would kill me.
I already told mom she should rush her to the hospital. but she said “Oh honey! i already gave her, her insulin she be okay”…yeah i know like i said everything is out of control. I feel like im the only one that cares.
that for high blood pressure, this is high blood sugar level…
Thanks guys! all of your answers helped…all yeah i know you guys don’t know her but please pray for my gramother. she needs this right now!

ANSWER:
You might want to ask your Mom to read:

“Living With Diabetes” :
– “The Silent Killer”
– The Challenge of Treatment
– The Role of Glucose, the Pancreas, and Sugar
– Diabetes Simplified

The Role of Diet , Nutrients, Spices and Natural Products in Diabetes Mellitus

http://pjbs.org/pjnonline/fin73.pdf

Diabetes Action – Healthy Recipes Main Page

http://www.diabetesaction.org/site/PageServer?pagename=recipe

You might also want to share this with your grandmother:

“When Sickness Will Be No More!”

http://watchtower.org/e/200701/article_03.htm

(I agree . . . no one wants to wind up in a nursing home.)

QUESTION:
Stroke, possible dementia, now death?
My Uncle & God Parent had a stroke about 4 years ago. Recently he has showed signs of Dementia, he forgets things often. Often forgetting when or if he ate.

He used to be very overweight, but lost about 30 lbs in the last month. He either refuses to eat, forgot he ate, or gives away half his plate (dinner) to the dog now.

Since his stroke, he has been unable to work. He is a sharp thinker, always has been, but has needed to be monitored since the stroke. He was diagnosed with diabetes 2 yrs ago, and has brought his blood sugar up to dangerous levels since then. My Aunt had to put a lock on the fridge just so he wouldn’t eat what was bad for him, and gave him a separate fridge with “safe foods”. But he’s smart! He started calling & ordering pizza & cinnamon sticks while she is at work!

He is only 57. Now my aunt- his wife (who is a nurse) is saying she is calling Hospice in. Hospice? I thought that was for those who were terminally ill? I’m so confused. Wether he refuses to eat or just forgets to eat- why call Hospice? Can’t they bring him to the ER & do a force-feeding tube?

I personally think it’s depression. His daughter (my cousin) left for college recentley, and his son moved out of state to join the military. I’m sure he feels worthless because he can’t manage himself or his health, and he cannot work.

My question is- can a person die from dementia? I am so mad right now, even if he is refuseing to eat- it’s not his choice because he’s not in the right mind state to decide what is good for him. In my mind they are letting him die, let him decide on his own terms, when he’s not even right in the head to make that choice.

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
is there a conspiracy between the food manufactures, healthcare and pharmacuticals to keep people fat for$$?
as absurd as it seems, think about it. all of the sweets that are in candies, soft drinks and the like are corn based. the sugars promote increase sugar levels in the blood, increased risk of diabetes and other dangerous health ailments. the pharmaceutical companies have incentive to create drugs for in ever increase illnesses, food companies keep making unhealthy food. they blame the public for unhealthy choices. they make the unhealthy food cheap, low income people are at the greatest risk, but the bottom line is increased profits for all involved and the circle of life continues as the profits soar and the health of all involved diminishes.

what are your thoughts about this?

ANSWER:
Ridiculous

QUESTION:
I’ve been reading some fascinating stuff about diabetic assistance animals?
These animals have the innate sense to warn their owners when their blood sugar is at a dangerous level (high or low). I don’t think my poor dog has it in her, but I am trying to teach my dog to alert me when my pump alarm goes off in the middle of the night. Has anyone had a pet with this innate sense? Has anyone trained his or her pet to assist with parts of his or her diabetes care?

ANSWER:
My cockateil wakes me up when I sleep through my alarm from a hypo.

I didn’t have to train him; he just knew how to do it.

QUESTION:
will my diabities kill me/ is it easy to controll?
i was diagnosed with diabetes only a month ago.

I am 15 years old, right now im not even on insulin because they say im in the honeymoon phase and my pancreas will produce insulin for a short or long period of time.

Once it stop if it does, will it get harder to control my sugar levels?

also people are saying type 1 is way more dangerous because your sugar levels are all over the place since your body doesn’t produce insulin at all, but with type 2 your body still makes some.

its a very scary disease for me and im having a lot of difficulty dealing with it. I am terrified of things that the disease can do. such as cause blindness, loose limbs, pass out, seizure, coma, ETC…

i know the doctor says i can live a long life, but how is that possible if there’s all these bad things to worry about?

i feel like if i ever went blind from this disease i would be so depressed. I am terrified of going blind. If i went blind i feel like it would just ruin my whole entire life. I mean who wants to live blind. No one. and from what i hear they cant even fix it so your just blind forever. Also if i play games such as xbox 360 a lot, is it more bad for my eyes since i am a diabetic. Because i play everyday and i don’t want it to make me go blind.
I am Type 1

ANSWER:
You can still play your xbox! Type 1 diabetes adds and extra challenge to life, but it just means you need to work harder than the average person to stay healthy. I’ve had type 1 diabetes for about 12 years and don’t have any complications yet – diabetes doesn’t stop me doing anything like my job or working out, but it does make these things a little more complicated than they are for most people! I’m very surprised that you’ve had type 1 for a month and you’re not on insulin!? Are you sure that the diagnosis is correct? Have you seen a specialist? It sounds like you need some specialist advise from a consultant or specialist nurse. But don’t worry – diabetes is something that you can live with and you can reduce your chances of getting complications by taking care of yourself as well as you can. Email me if you want to chat about it? xx

QUESTION:
Question about my blood sugar reading…..?
I just got diagnosed at 29 weeks with gestational diabetes. They have given me a monitor that I check my sugar with 4 times a day. It has been running between 93 (a miracle) to 155 at any given time. I took it one hour after eating just then and it was 227. I don’t feel any different. How dangerous is a level of 227? Should I seek medical help or just re-check it in a little bit?

They want me to monitor for a week to see how high/low my levels go before they change my diet or give me medicine. So i’m not really sure at what time it becomes necessary to seek medical advice if I feel okay. I’m not dizzy, confused, vomiting, having blurry vision or any of that.

thanks in advance!
I didn’t know it was more accurate after 2 hours. I’m going by a chart I have to fill in that tells me what times to take it and it said an hour after eating breakfast. I just wasn’t sure if 227 was an immediate emergency or not b/c of diabetic ketoacidosis. Thanks for your answer! i’m going to check it again in about 30 minutes b/c that’ll be two hours.

ANSWER:
There is a good reason your doctor wants you to check after 60 minutes. It is just as accurate as the 2 hour reading, it just gives them different information. Most people peak anywhere from 50 to 75 minutes after starting to eat and then fall back towards normal. They want to know how high you go as peaks are where the damage is done to both you and the fetus. 227 is not an emergency, but I would call them and let them know how high you are as they should start to make changes to your diet sooner rather than waiting.

Just to let you know a doctor you looks at the peak time rather than seeing if you get back to normal is up on their diabetes and is to be congratulated as there are a lot of doctors that still treat diabetes the same way it was done in the 60′s and 70′s.

QUESTION:
Help!!!!! worried about Seroquel side effects!!!?
Doctor put me 50 mg seroquel xr twice daily for bipolar with psychotic features and I’m worried about the side effects.
Even though Seroquel XR is not classified as an antidepressant, the FDA has required Seroquel XR to carry the special antidepressant and suicide warning, since Seroquel XR is used to treat depression and bipolar depression. Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thinking or behavior in children, teenagers, and adults (see Depression and Suicide for more information). Therefore, if you notice any changes in symptoms or new symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider immediately. Some of these symptoms may include anxiety, hostility, agitation, panic, restlessness, hallucinations, extreme hyperactivity, and suicidal thinking or behavior.

Seroquel XR can cause an increase in blood sugar levels and can increase the risk of developing diabetes. Tell your healthcare provider if you develop signs of diabetes while taking Seroquel XR. Possible signs of diabetes can include an increase in thirst, urination, or hunger. If you have diabetes, your blood sugar should be monitored carefully and regularly during treatment with Seroquel XR to make sure your diabetes is not becoming more severe (see Seroquel and Diabetes).

A high fever
Stiff muscles
Confusion
An irregular pulse or blood pressure
A fast heart rate (tachycardia)
Sweating
Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Tell your healthcare provider right away if you think you might have NMS.
Seroquel XR can cause low white blood cells, which can be dangerous. If you already have low white blood cells (or have experienced a white blood cell drop due to a medication in the past), your healthcare provider should check your white blood cell count during the first few months you take Seroquel XR.

Seroquel XR can cause a drop in blood pressure when going from a sitting or lying position to standing (known medically as orthostatic hypotension). This can cause a person to faint or to have lightheadedness or dizziness. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms when standing. Orthostatic hypotension can be especially dangerous in people with heart disease or congestive heart failure (CHF).

Seroquel XR can cause tardive dyskinesia, a condition involving unusual and uncontrollable body or facial movements. The condition can become permanent (even if Seroquel XR is stopped). The best way to prevent it from becoming permanent is to tell your healthcare provider right away if you notice any abnormal movements (including abnormal movements of the tongue) while taking Seroquel XR.

Seroquel XR can cause cataracts (an eye condition). It is recommended that all people taking Seroquel XR have their eyes checked for cataracts every six months.

Seroquel XR may increase the risk of seizures. Before starting Seroquel XR, tell your healthcare provider if you have epilepsy or a history of seizures.

Seroquel XR can cause an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), high liver enzymes, high cholesterol, or high triglycerides. It is probably a good idea to have your thyroid, triglycerides, liver enzymes, and cholesterol checked (using a blood test) regularly while taking Seroquel XR.

Seroquel XR can cause high levels of the hormone prolactin. Let your healthcare provider know if you develop signs of high prolactin, such as breast enlargement or breast discharge.

Very rarely, Seroquel XR can cause priapism (a painful erection of the penis that does not go away). Because this is a medical emergency, seek medical care immediately in order to prevent permanent damage to the penis.

Seroquel XR can cause difficultly swallowing, which can lead to inhalation of food (which can cause pneumonia). Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any problems swallowing.

ANSWER:
If you can find a way to feel better sans the drug… you’re way ahead of the game. Start here!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/positive-thinking/SR00009

It’s never a good idea to rely on meds to aid us in feeling less anxious or depressed.
Depression plaques all of us at one time or another. Arm yourself with positive thinking and really concentrate on thinking more positive and with more confidence. Granted 50 mg is a small dosage… it can still have many unfavorable side effects. It’s OK to feel down, it’s OK to feel overwhelmed… feel the feeling and let it go!
Try keeping a journal and see if you can pinpoint the source of your depression. And then find a way to turn it around.
I believe in you… won’t you believe in you? (^_^)

QUESTION:
Is obesity really that dangerous?
I’m a 5’10 21 y/o 300lb male with 45% body fat, yet I feel fine and have as much energy as anyone else I know. My blood sugar level is normal and I haven’t had my cholesterol checked since I was a small child. Am I in any real danger if I maintain my current weight? My diet is usually very low in sugar and is mostly red meat and fruit, with only a small amount of bread/refined sugars. No one on my father’s side of the family has made it past age 60 (heart disease) and my mother’s side of the family usually make it into their 70s with few problems (though some have very mild type 2 diabetes by middle age).

ANSWER:
You’re 21, your body is more able to handle the obesity now than any other time in your life. As you age the repercussions of your obesity will become more appearant.

QUESTION:
Diabetic and eating anything i want!?
hello everyone

i have diabetes type1, for about 4 months now, and what i have heard from people around that diabetics should eat healthy food no sugar blablabla etc etc…

that what i did first 2 months, then after some experiments on my self(after knowing how to calculate carbs and how much it raises sugar in my blood), what i do is i just take extra insulin and eat whatever i want without letting my blood sugar to raise high, i even sometimes eat cake donuts and whatever.

i mean diabetes is all about not letting your blood sugar to raise to dangerous levels so what i think is what I’m doing safe.

what do you think?
Hello again,

Thank you for your answers here is some of my replies.

*to Stingray: you are right about what you said, but to be honest eating steamed vegetable and broiled chicken breast all your life isn’t a healthy choice too, you u’ll need to go sometimes with your friends and eat a burger with them, maybe a coffee with a donut:), im not saying all the time, but from time to time, you wont get frustrated, and make you happier.

————————————–

*to Laurie Winston: sweets are actually LOADED with calories, that’s why people stop or take less when they want to lose some weight

————————————–

*to Lyn Kiefer: thank you for your answer, you can’t compare thyroid medication to insulin intake, and you are comparing two different whole diseases that has nothing to do with each other, insulin is hormone central to regulating carbohyd
*to Lyn Kiefer: thank you for your answer, you can’t compare thyroid medication to insulin intake, and you are comparing two different whole diseases that has nothing to do with each other, insulin is hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body.

its made by a healthy pancreas, Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle.

and more insulin intake that means you need to take more carbs or food, the only risk im getting here is gaining weight, and im pretty sure that i need more weight, plus i work out to get some bigger muscles, and a 2000 calories diet as my doctor described for me, i mean come on… i would be losing wight.

————————————–

*to JJ2007: Yes im aware of the risks, but im doing it right and that whats matter, its like getting your self an insulin pump that do the exact same job.

im controlling my disease, and i check my bl
im controlling my disease, and i check my blood sugar always after all meals and before, and by the way we all know that more insulin intake that means you need to eat more so your blood sugar wont go too low.

its not like im eating 5 meals of burgers when i go to lunch to get my self to “The Biggest Loser” TV show! as you said, and i work out 4 days a week, and btw i feel even more healthy than i have ever been when i started to do what im doing.

i dont recommend people doing this at home because i really dont know if they can count it right so they might hurt them selfs if they take the wrong dosage and they might dont know what to do.
————————————

* to TheOrange Evil: yes i do get sometimes low blood sugar, but i know the symptoms and i know what to do, but low blood sugar does’nt hurt you like high blood sugar does in long way, its only temporary till you eat something to get it in healthy range.

so im not worrying about that, im just trying not to get my blood sugar high, so sometime i do even take more dosage just to make sure.

* to Addy N: thank you very much for your answer, i feel much better now ^_^

best of luck.

—————————————-

* to Tabea: thank you, you just gave us some great information here.

Best of luck

ANSWER:
There is no reason why a Type 1 should not eat whatever they like, as long as they count their carbs correctly and bolus accordingly.

The only issues are the following:

- Insulin causes weight gain for some people. But if you don’t have an issue with weight gain, then this is not relevant to you.

- The law of small numbers. The less carb you eat, the less insulin you will need, and the less the chance of highs and lows.

It is all about moderation. If you count your carbs properly, and test a lot, and your A1C is ok, then please continue with what you are doing. Being diabetic doesn’t mean you should be condemned to boring steamed vegetables and grilled chicken breast. (Quite aside from the fact that dietary fat is not the issue at all!!) But it just means that you cannot just shove anything in your mouth without thinking first about its effect on your blood sugar. As long as that is properly managed, bon appetit!

QUESTION:
hyper and hypolycemia detector dogs?
Where can I find an organisation in Uk which might help me get or train my own dog (do not have one yet) to detect high and low blood sugar levels in me. I have brittle diabetes which means that I have little or no warnings as to what my blood sugars are doing which can land me in some very awkward situations, some dangerous, some just downright embarrassing.

ANSWER:
Nina Bondarenko is setting up a scheme to train dogs for people with diabetes, she has a lot of experience training assistance dogs here in the UK

http://www.ninabondarenko.co.uk/

Do not get a dog without consulting with the trainer of an assistance dog organisation as they will have to pass an assessment before being trained some dogs will not be suitable for training

QUESTION:
Should I lie to get induced?
I have been monitoring my blood sugars b/c I have gestational diabetes and have been able to keep them in the OK range with the proper diet. My doctors originally told me they would not let me go past 39 weeks as it can be dangerous for GD moms and babies. Now last week, they said they would let me go until a week past my due date before induction (41 weeks). My due date is tomorrow and I am tempted to lie and say my blood sugar levels have been higher. I was also thinking of drinking orange juice before the appointment so I will have sugar in my urine. Is this a stupid idea? I am just nervous about going so much longer than all of the other GD moms I know. Also, the baby was estimated to weigh 8 lbs. at my 38 weeks ultrasound, so I am getting nervous about her getting too big. I have expressed my concerns multiple times to my doctor, but they won’t bend.

ANSWER:
Oh hun…don’t risk your health or the baby’s by letting your sugars get out of wack just to be induced. Now personally it’s wrong to lie about your sugar testing but I know at close to 40 weeks I would probably do that if I had to but my doctor is more accomodating then your doctor is!
As for the risk of going to term with GD they are referring to the fact that with GD the placenta can begin to stop working sooner then “normal” pregnancies. As long as they are monitoring the baby and you it’s okay to get to term. Also if the baby just can’t seem to move through they’ll order a c-section even if they induced you today.
It’s also better to let the baby cook as long as it can with GD since the sugars in your blood will allow the baby to get huge but causes slower development of the lungs.
Good luck.

QUESTION:
i was recently told i have hypoglycemia..?
i dont really know anything about managing blood sugar. how is it gonna affect me now and what can i do to make sure my sugar doesnt drop to a dangerous level? do i have to check my levels at all? how will it affect me if get pregnant? i have a family history of type II diabetes. if i dont manage my hypoglycemia can i become diabetic? any on it is info is welcome.
i went to the doctor after being tested at work after i passed out.

ANSWER:
Here is a link for Hypoglycemia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoglycemia

If you feel dizzy or weak or nauseous, these are often symptoms of low blood sugar. It is a good idea to carry a snack with you in case you begin to feel not well.

Low blood sugar can be dangerous and you can avoid this by eating small, frequent meals. Take care to not eat foods with a high glycemic index (high sugary foods) and this will help keep your blood sugar on a more even keel.

Take a look at the Wikipedia entry for ‘glycemic index’ as this is a guide to the way and how fast foods break down in your body

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycemic_index

If you can, talk to your doctor, a nurse or a nutritionist regarding how to eat best with your condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
Is 6.0 blood sugar level high enough to be diabetes? Im in canada just to let you know?
Plz help im really worried

ANSWER:
6.0 is a really good blood sugar.
anything between 4.0 + 8.0 is normal.
be proud, theres nothing to worry about (:

QUESTION:
Please proof read my work?
The inventions of last couple centuries have saved many lives and changed the way people live, worldwide. The Canadian community has contributed a great number of medical inventions which continue to save lives. Some may question whether Canada done enough to show its involvement as a global population. Mankind has achieved success in various pursuits and has made many advancements in every field. The Canadian society of the last century has also followed the same path by discovering many new medical achievements such as insulin, pacemaker and high tech blood analysis.
One of the most famous and well acknowledged Canadian inventions would have to be medical a discovery for Diabetes. Diabetes is also known as the sugar disease. Diabetes can cause high levels of sugar build up in your blood; this can lead to severe health aggravation. In the 1920s doctors started working on temporary cures like insulin to help diabetic patients live longer. Insulin was withdrawn from the pancreases of animals and given to people with diabetes but course it was first distilled. Insulin can be injected in the following parts of the body such as the abdomen, upper arms, thighs, hips and calves. The thoughts of creating insulin started when Dr.Bantings’ friend passed away. Some might think that insulin is a cure to diabetes but it’s only a discovery which balances sugar levels in a diabetic person. People suffering from diabetes cannot appropriately digest and regulate sugars. Insulin extract was first used on dogs to prove that it had some kind of effect and ones this was proven further research had begun to purify the extract for human use. Leonard a 14 year old boy dying of the “sugar diseases” at the time he only weighted 30 kilograms. Banting’s team then tested the first dose of insulin on him and he was first patient to ever get the injection. The boy appeared healthy afterwards but the question was how could they produce enough insulin and how could a consistent strength of insulin be assured. After countless research and hard work Banting’s team produced a world standard for insulin. Science and technology has made high quality and long lasting insulin. Patients will often inject doses of insulin prescribed by their doctors to keep their sugar levels neutralized. Modern science continues to find better cures to erase such diseases.

The heart is a very important organ in the human body without it you just can’t survive. This muscular organ manages the flow through your blood vessels. For Example suppose that your heart beats to quick or to slow, this will lead to inefficient blood flow to your important organs, like your brain. The invention of the pacemaker solves this dilemma. A few people will come across this situation where their heart will beat in an unusual rhythm. Fortunately the pacemaker can resolve this problem by sending micro electrical jolts to the heart. This will enable the heart to process at an average speed and continues to do it, daily. The pace maker was first noticed by an electrical engineer, Dr. John Hopps. He noticed that a certain electrical jolt could make a heart beat while he was helping revive animals from the extreme cold. By the 1950s, the first external pacemaker was invented. Many academicians realized the potential of the external pacemaker and they started working on a size that would fit inside the human body. Yes, once again the Canadian society has succeeded and this small device saves many lives worldwide.

This high tech device is not well recognized but it’s used in many places. The high tech device is shortly known as I Stat. It’s commonly used in hospitals, international Space Station and paramedics in ambulances use it often as well. It’s arising in the Canadian market started in the 1992, after many years of hard work. For the first time in history a hand held apparatus could easy deliver twelve common blood tests. Its results are as accurate as a laboratory test but with lot less time required. The science behind the machine is very complicated but for the general public using the product is not. The way this extraordinary mechanizes works is by analyzing the drops of blood, that are laid on it and the end results are displayed on a digital screen. “Saving time in blood analysis can mean saving lives”

Many years have passed and the world has progressed in technology. The late century Canadian medical associations have impacted a great amount of research being done today. Inventions such as the pacemaker, insulin and I stat are still being greatly improved by the doctors worldwide. Just imagine what it would have been like for the people that fight these terrible diseases, if these great Canadians weren’t born they would still be in horrendous pain or maybe just died. That’s why the advancement in technology is always helpful, as long as there not used in a negative altitude. The people that continue to dedicate their time towards medical r
medical research will make an enormous difference in the next generation to come.

ANSWER:
sorry but the first paragraph made me want to go to sleep. In the 1st paragraph there is 1 mistake that i have seen: “Some may question whether Canada done enough to show its involvement as a global population.”

it needs to be “…have done enough to show…..”

QUESTION:
Plz help me, i am really worried!!?
The doctor told my dad that he might have diabetes, my dads sugar level is 6.0 and that is when he didnt he. Im in canada so we have a different measuring system for blood sugar level, plz help im really concerned, does my dad have diabetes?

ANSWER:
Is the 6.0 for the measurement of the Hba1c?

If it is, he may not have full blown diabetes, maybe just prediabetes.

An Hba1c of 6.0 % corresponds to an Average Plasma Blood Glucose of 135 mg/dL. It means he very likely has diabetes, but if it is like this I don’t think he needs to take any medications, he just needs to cut back on anything sugary or starchy. He should be getting most of his carbohydrates from vegetables now.

Type II diabetes is curable. You just have to lose weight and exercise and maintain a high fiber and moderately low carb diet. Easier said than done.

I am on a gluten free diet and I just found out I had diabetes 9 months ago. I just wish I didn’t have to eat food anymore… its just so hard to figure it out…

Don’t let him take any pills. Most pills prescribed for diabetes actually cause more deaths than just not doing anything. It says so on insert itself: “increased risk if cardiovascular death.” If he must take medication, it is just better to shoot insulin. But type II diabetes can be cured and should be treated with diet and exercise alone whenever possible.

QUESTION:
Is this leading me towards being diabetic?
First off, I live with a type one diabetic and he’s convinced I’m well on my way there. Personally, I think he’s reading too deeply into it, but that’s just me. On Friday I ended up being rushed to the hospital since my sugar levels were 1.4 (I’m in Canada, so I have no idea what that will equate to for American or any other system). Even there, one of the nurses was saying that I could be and not know it. I know it’s something that can happen randomly and whatnot, but I just wanted to know if it was something that I really should be not worried about exactly, but I should watch out for.

A couple months ago, my sugar actually read Hi on my loves meter, which means it was was over 33.3. I down sugary stuff constantly and I’m not in the best of shape. I’m not overly fat, sure as hell not obese, but I am a bit overweight definitely. (My BMI is at like, 32 or something last I checked)

DIabetes is in my family, I don’t know where, but I have been told that it is. I just have no idea if I should pay any heed to the possibility that I could end up diabetic or not. Also, some of the things for it’s onset are playing a part with me right now.

I’m heading to the bathroom a hell of a lot more often than I should be, I’m drinking way more than normal, plus my appetite was insane this past month. Which is weird considering I normally don’t have an appetite.

So yeah, I just wanted to know if it’s something that I really should pay heed to, or what.
I have an appointment on the 14th of December, I’ll probably end up checked then and whatnot, we shall see what happens.
Also, I was told to keep a log of my sugar levels until my appointment, normally when I check I’m over 7 when I get up and after I eat 2,5 hours later I’m over 8 normally. Sometimes over 1o.

ANSWER:
What Are the Symptoms of Diabetes?
Common symptoms of diabetes include:

Excessive thirst and appetite
Increased urination (sometimes as often as every hour)
Unusual weight loss or gain
Fatigue
Nausea, perhaps vomiting
Blurred vision
In women, frequent vaginal infections
In men and women, yeast infections
Dry mouth
Slow-healing sores or cuts
Itching skin, especially in the groin or vaginal area

QUESTION:
Does Medical Marijuana sound right for me?
Hello,

I’m a 19 year old male living in Ontario, Canada. I have diabetes, anxiety and depression, I was prescribed Effexor XR (not a overly high dose) but due to the serious lack of pros, and a mountain of cons and bad experiences I decided to not take said pharm. I do not like swallowing pills and I do not like pharms, they seem to create a lot of problems.
Due to diabetes, I have very strong back pain from seizures, and discomfort due to highblood along with all the other problems that could develop from that.
Stress managment is a key factor in diabetes, having a very stressful life tends to keep your blood at a high sugar level. Most people tend to indulge in a cigarette or alcohol to take a bit of the constant edge off of life, this should be heavily avoided for a diabetic. Marijuana provides a non blood sugar level, stress reliving alternative to stress and anxiety, which greatly helps in the reduction of low blood.

If you know nothing about marijuana, please do not answer this question, there are many medical benefits, and very few cons, compared to, say, the often prescribed Oxycontin.

I’m not looking to hear “Son, this will ruin you’re life. Try to find Jesus please” but thank you for you’re concern.

Does Medical Marijuana sound like it could apply for me? Or should I not even bother asking my doctor about it tomorrow morning? As I’ve said I suffer from anxiety, and its turning my stomach at the thought of bringing it up, but I’ve wanted to for quite a long time.

ANSWER:
Try it,it’s at least a natural remedy and pharms can be harmful over a long period of time.Keep in mind that medical marijuana doesn’t work for every one just as pharms don’t work for every one.

QUESTION:
I am insulin resistance – a side effect of PCOS – anyone have any good recomendations for suitible diet?
Definition
Insulin resistance is not a disease as such but rather a state or condition in which a person’s body tissues have a lowered level of response to insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas that helps to regulate the level of glucose (sugar) in the body. As a result, the person’s body produces larger quantities of insulin to maintain normal levels of glucose in the blood. There is considerable individual variation in sensitivity to insulin within the general population, with the most insulin-sensitive persons being as much as six times as sensitive to the hormone as those identified as most resistant. Some doctors use an arbitrary number, defining insulin resistance as a need for 200 or more units of insulin per day to control blood sugar levels. Various researchers have estimated that 3-16 percent of the general population in the United States and Canada is insulin-resistant; another figure that is sometimes given is 70-80 million Americans.
Insulin resistance can be thought of as a set of metabolic dysfunctions associated with or contributing to a range of serious health problems. These disorders include type 2 diabetes (formerly called adult-onset or non-insulin-dependent diabetes), the metabolic syndrome (formerly known as syndrome X), obesity, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Some doctors prefer the term “insulin resistance syndrome” to “metabolic syndrome.”
Description
To understand insulin resistance, it may be helpful for the reader to have a brief account of the way insulin works in the body. After a person eats a meal, digestive juices in the small intestine break down starch or complex sugars in the food into glucose, a simple sugar. The glucose then passes into the bloodstream. When the concentration of glucose in the blood reaches a certain point, the pancreas is stimulated to release insulin into the blood. As the insulin reaches cells in muscle and fatty (adipose) tissues, it attaches itself to molecules called insulin receptors on the surface of the cells. The activation of the insulin receptors sets in motion a series of complex biochemical signals within the cells that allow the cells to take in the glucose and convert it to energy. If the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin or the insulin receptors do not function properly, the cells cannot take in the glucose and the level of glucose in the blood remains high.
The insulin may fail to bind to the insulin receptors for any of several reasons. Some persons inherit a gene mutation that leads to the production of a defective form of insulin that cannot bind normally to the insulin receptor. Others may have one of two types of abnormalities in the insulin receptors themselves. In type A, the insulin receptor is missing from the cell surface or does not function properly. In type B, the person’s immune system produces autoantibodies to the insulin receptor.
In the early stages of insulin resistance, the pancreas steps up its production of insulin in order to control the increased levels of glucose in the blood. As a result, it is not unusual for patients to have high blood sugar levels and high blood insulin levels (a condition known as hyperinsulinemia) at the same time. If insulin resistance is not detected and treated, however, the islets of Langerhans (the insulin-secreting groups of cells) in the pancreas may eventually shut down and decrease in number.

ANSWER:
The information offered by Crayon Girl is good. The foods that she’s telling you to avoid are high glycaemic index (GI) foods.

Ideally you should be aiming to eat smaller meals, of low glycaemic index foods, but more frequently. So, instead of having 3 main meals in a day, you could try breaking this down to 6 smaller meals a day, with a few hours between them. This lessons the chances of you having a ‘sugar spike’ where your blood sugar level rises rapidly, causing your pancreas to release more insulin in an attempt to deal with it.

Take a look at the following sites for more information on the Glycaemic Index [Glycemic Index, if you're American].

The first site gives a list of the top 50 foods (though I don’t know who chose that 50) with their respective glycaemic index values.

Edit:

The lower the glycaemic index value, the less likely you are to produce more insulin in dealing with it.

Nateglinide is a drug that is usually suggested for diabetes treatment. It is sold under different brand names. One of the popular brands is Starlix. It helps the body to react to respond to the insulin which is produced in the body by the pancreas. This medication is used to control the sugar levels in the body. But this drug can be used only in patients who have type2 diabetes. Type2 diabetes patients are those who do not depend on insulin to reduce the sugar levels. Starlix is often used in combination with other medicines to treat diabetes. It has been suggested to maintain a proper diet and exercise regularly to get positive response from the medication.

Starlix should not be used by those who have type1 diabetes and those who are suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis. The type 1 diabetes patients have to depend on insulin for treatment. It is advised not to use this drug if you are allergic to nateglinide. While using the medicine there are chances for the patient to experience hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. To handle such situations it is necessary to carry a source that supplies sugar immediately like glucose or orange juice.

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
pregnant, normal blood sugar levels after eating?
just wondering, do people without diabetes blood sugar levels spike like up to 7.2 after dinner. I have never noticed this before, and have been keeping an eye on my blood sugar levels over the past week or so, and they seem to be 5.8 – 2 hours after eating, and just then i checked and they are 7.2, just after i finished eating, I dont have diabetes that i know of, and im 25weeks 6 days pregnant, couldnt this be the onset of gestational diabetes?

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
I dont have diabetes but my blood sugar level after eating was 142?
Is this normal?

ANSWER:
How long after eating?

Here’s my feeling on the matter and I fully acknowledge that what I think doesn’t line up with what the medical establishment considers acceptable.

Doctors will say that anything under 140 mg/dL after eating is “normal” and that you should be returning to pre-meal levels, below 100 mg/dL, by 2 to 4 hours.

People with healthy pancreases should have intact phase 1 and phase 2 insulin responses to keep blood sugar in a tight range. If you were below 100 mg/dL before eating, then a 40+ point spike after a meal makes me wonder if your phase 1 insulin response (triggered by rising blood glucose) is working properly. Non-diabetics tend to have gradual increases in blood sugar and then gradual declines, usually by 2 hours. Diabetics are more likely to have huge spikes, even if they’re able to return to normal within that 2-hour time frame.

I don’t know whether you tested on a home meter, how long after eating you tested, and what your blood sugar was before you ate. I do know that any random reading over 140 mg/dL, if accurate, is concerning. This doesn’t mean you have diabetes. One isolated reading can’t tell us much. I do think that you should keep tabs on this by seeing a doctor for a fasting blood sugar and A1c test.

With diabetes, early detection is absolutely vital.

QUESTION:
Is 157 blood sugar level after eating to high for someone who does not have diabetes?
a friend tested my blood sugar this morning and it was 157. I ate however not to long before. She said that is not a good blood sugar level. I am really healthy though i run and only weigh 110 5’3 so I am not over weight and am active. Is it possible that I have diabetes?

ANSWER:
Ideally your glucose should be between 70-120 (this may vary slightly depending on multiple factors… see your doctor for your range)

The best measure for your risk of diabetes would be a “FASTING” test which you test you test your blood glucose after you wake up in the morning before eating or drinking anything.

You may also do what is called an “A1C Test” which measures your glucose average over the course of a 3 month period of time.

Not everyone that has diabetes is overweight… also keep that in mind!

Hope this helps answer the question.

QUESTION:
Blood sugar levels of 45-70 2-3 hours after eating. First thing morning before eating is 90-110.Diabetes?
I had blood sugar level of 45 2-3hours after eating. Blood sugar first thing in the morning is between 90 and 110. It naturally goes up immediately after eating but then the severe drop in the past three weeks. I feel sick, shakey, red face, hot and sweaty, fuzzy eyed and headachey. Is it diabetes? The A1C came back 6.3 but I don’t believe it is a good measure of the highs and lows I am experiencing to say it is diabetes. What is up does anyone know or have an idea? Thank you!

ANSWER:
You’re likely diabetic or prediabetic. An A1c over 6.0% is technically diabetic.

Your A1c is an average of your blood sugar over the past three months. You’re having lows, but you’re also having spikes right after you eat. Since your A1c isn’t that high, the symptoms you’re experiencing are probably hypoglycemia, not hyperglycemia.

I know you’re probably confused because diabetes means high blood sugar, not low blood sugar, but let me tell you a bit about what’s going on. You’re a new diabetic. Your pancreas still produces a sufficient amount of insulin. Your primary insulin response (what keeps your blood sugar from spiking too high) is impaired, but your secondary insulin response (what brings you down to pre-meal levels) is intact. You eat, you spike, and that sends a signal to your pancreas: RELEASE MORE INSULIN! The problem is that your pancreas releases too much insulin, sensing that your blood sugar has gone too high, and then that causes a rapid drop that makes you feel dizzy and weak. This phenomenon is somewhat common in newly diagnosed diabetics. I’ve met several.

You should be eating a low-carbohydrate diet. That will prevent spikes and crashes. Your blood sugar will be much more stable and your A1c will likely going down.

QUESTION:
Is excess sugar eating can cause Diabetes?
What could happen if i keep taking sugar (normal quantity) even after suffering from Diabetes. Can blood sugar level be controlled without taking medecine?

ANSWER:
It is all depends upon the quantum of the insulin produced by your body or administered by medicine. When u take more sugar, more insulin is required. Due to decrease in insulin production in your body, the diabetes arises.Decrease in production is compensated by insulin medicine. But excess qty of medicine will make the organ to still slow down in producing the insulin, ultimately stops, will become dependent of insulin medicine. Excess insulin produced by body will not create problem but excess insuline by medicine will lower the blood sugar and leads to complication. Producing enough insulin by body for the normal sugar in take is always good. Eating of natural food, consists of uncooked vegitarian foods such as grains,pulses,fruits,raw vegetable will help u to great extent the diabetes and low sugar

QUESTION:
Diabetes-Why does my blood sugar go down after eating candy?
I was diagnosed with diabetes a month ago. I follow a strict diet. I have slipped with eating candy about 4 times and I notice my blood sugar actually goes down after this. I’m usually steady with levels around 105, but after the candy I go down to 80′s! Why?
I am on metformin medication.

ANSWER:
Your first responder was right. I’m not diabetic, but I get episodes of low blood sugar. Except mine goes below 70, and I get the shakes and sweatiness. What happens is when you eat candy your body releases a whole bunch of insulin for that candy. If you stop eating candy and don’t eat anything for a while and/or do some physical activity, your pancreas has pumped out some additional insulin expecting more candy. So you get low. Pop tarts do it to me the worst for some reason, I can’t eat ‘em :o)

QUESTION:
Gestational diabetes…why are my blood sugar levels sometimes smaller AFTER I eat?
I have to take my blood sugar levels 7 times a day. Before each meal, an hour after each meal and before I go to bed. Sometimes my blood sugars are higher before I eat and then go down after I eat…shouldn’t it be the other way around??

ANSWER:
I dont think this is uncommon, I am a diabetic type 2 and I have 2 healthy lil ones. I really had to watch what I ate all the time too, whatever i ate affected my sugar levels, but the more you check your sugar and eat properly you’llget familiar with this process and better control your diabetes. I also know it’s hard to do. But when all is said and done and you see that lil face looking at you, You’ll know it’s all worth it. Just ask your doc if you have any ?’s.

QUESTION:
well i started to watch what I’m eating and my fasting blood sugar level are 111, but during the day after i e?
eat my levels or 97 , so does this mean i have diabetes because me sugars lever are over 100 in the morning?

ANSWER:
Dunno. You haven’t indicated what you had to eat prior to going to bed, nor how long you slept.

Normally, a non-diabetic’s fasting blood glucose (sugar) level would be between 70 and 99 mg/dL.

Why are you testing your blood glucose (sugar) level if you don’t know what the readings mean?

If this is more than one reading, I’d suggest you need to see your doctor and explain that you’ve been testing your blood glucose level and the results you’ve been getting are higher than ‘normal’ first thing in the morning. S/he may then refer you for further testing.

I wish you well.

QUESTION:
Gestational Diabetes and sugar levels. Kind of long sorry.?
I am not trolling. Yesterday I just happened to get the test results for my gestational diabetes test. They said my sugar range should be around 130 and I tested at 146. So now have I have to go and do the 3 hour gestational diabetes test.

A little history my dad has diabetes he takes medication for it and it’s under control. So yesterday after getting my results I asked him if i could use his meter and test strips for the next week to monitor my own sugar levels before my appointment date. Without changing my diet or eating habits my sugar level today tested 59.

How did it lower so much when i didn’t change anything?
And would it be ok for me to continue to monitor my own sugar levels before the test?

I’m still going to do what they suggest with the carb loading so their test comes back properly, but would possibly like to fallow my sugar tell then, and even for awhile after.

Thanks to those who take the time to answer my question.
Yes the test strips are 90 from beginning. I used the first 3 out of the package, and 3 new needles of course. My dad did it 3 times to be sure.

ANSWER:
I most definately would check blood sugar my self. 59 is Hypoglycemic. Not good . Are the test strips less than 90 from opening.
heres glucoselevels (Normal)

What Are Normal Blood Glucose And Blood Sugar Levels

There are various methods to determine blood glucose level. Some tests give you accurate diagnosis of diabetes or pre-diabetes, while others will tell you how well you are managing your diabetes.

Fasting Blood Sugar Test:
Measures the blood sugar level after 8 hours fast or overnight. Normal fasting blood glucose level is less than 100mg/dl. If your fasting blood glucose level is from 100mg/dl to 125mg/dl then you will have impaired blood glucose level also known as Pre-Diabetes. If your blood glucose level is above 125mg/dl then your doctor will diagnose as a patient of diabetes. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may repeat the fasting blood glucose test on any other day. If you have blood glucose level of 126mg/dl or higher in two consecutive tests, then you may have diabetes. If you have blood glucose level greater than 200mg/dl and you have symptoms of diabetes like increased thirst or hunger, frequent urination, weight loss, blurred vision etc, then you may be diagnosed with diabetes mellitus without confirming it with second test.

Random Blood Glucose Test:
Random blood Glucose test gives your blood sugar at any time in a day. Normal random blood sugar level should be less than 200mg/dl. If your random blood glucose level is between 140mg/dl to 200mg/dl then you will have pre-diabetes.

Oral glucose tolerance test
This test measures your response to sugar. First we measure fasting blood glucose level, and then glucose solution is given, after that we measure blood glucose after 1 hour and 2hours. A normal blood glucose level after an oral glucose tolerance test is less than 140 mg/dL. Level between 140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL suggests pre-diabetes. A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher two hours after you drink the glucose solution may suggest that you have diabetes mellitus.

Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test
This test is not for diagnosing diabetes, but it shows you how well you have controlled your sugar in last 2 or 3 months. Normal value is less than 7%, however if it is more than 7 then you and your doctor should think of changing your treatment of diabetes.

Always Remember, your blood glucose measurement alone is not enough to differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Your doctor may do some other tests to find out which type of diabetes you have.
Hypoglycemia Symptoms
Because epinephrine, one of the hormones that is activated by hypoglycemia, comes from the central nervous system, the majority of early symptoms of hypoglycemia are related to the nervous system.
Common symptoms of hypoglycemia include the following:
Trembling
Clamminess
Palpitations
Anxiety
Sweating
Hunger

Because the brain is deprived of glucose, a second set of symptoms follows:
Difficulty in thinking
Confusion
Headache
Seizures
Coma
Ultimately, death

Good luck to you and your baby.

QUESTION:
question about pregnancy diabetes and sugar levels?
I had gotten told this morning that I have diabetes and they sent me home with test strips and told me to take my sugar levels two hours after I eat, which I did, I did it three times because I wasn’t sure If I was doing it right, the numbers were 83, 93, 96 and 111, ( these numbers are not in the order they came up ) How do I know which number is the correct number, and are these numbers too high?

I questioned the results from the doctors so that’s why I’m asking.

Also I’m 30 weeks pregnant.

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Is 91 a good Blood Sugar Level after eating something?
Diabetes runs in my family, so i’m always watchin my sugar levels. I was just wonderin what is a good rang of sugar levels beforee and after a meal. I just ate and have a level of 91. is that good or bad?

ANSWER:
Great!My best friend who has been diagnosed with diabetes is glad when she has that 91,three hours after the meal,let alone just after the meal.You are a star!

QUESTION:
What should be blood sugar levels with gestational diabetes?
I know the fasting level should be 90 or lower and lower than 140 an hour after meals and lower than 120 two hours after meals, but when I eat my afternoon snack, should my sugar level stay constant? Yesterday, I had a dessert for a snack and checked my sugar an hour later. It was 126. A couple hours later, I ate dinner and checked my levels after an hour and everything was under 140. So I guess the question is do I aim for the same guidelines for my snacks as I do for my meals or lower?

ANSWER:
i would aim for the same guidelines for snacks as for meals. although your doctor may have a different opinion- i’d be sure to at least ask at your next appt either with your OB or your endocrinologist. it sounds like you’re doing just fine though best of luck!

QUESTION:
How to lower blood sugar levels with type II diabetes?
My mother is a diabetic and she does her best to control her blood sugar. She used to drink lots of green tea after eating foods high in glucose and it used to lower her blood sugar. Unfortunately, she has just realized that she has kidney stones and the doctor told her to stop drinking green tea. Do you know of any other home remedy that she could use?

Ps: she does take Gen Glybe ( perscribe medication) for her diabetes.

ANSWER:
There are several home remedies other than green tea. They are all natural herbs that you can find in specific regions, together with certain vitamins and minerals.

-Bitter melon juice
-Cinnamon
-Gymnema Sylvestre
- Banaba

Some of the home remedies are very difficult to get, it depends where do you live.
For more info check the source below

QUESTION:
What is the normal blood sugar level approximately 4 hours after eating breakfast?
I am 21 weeks pregnant. This morning I ate waffles for breakfast and have felt awful ever since. I am dizzy, nauseated, and have a headache. I am also sweating a lot and am very sleepy. I have never been diagnosed as a diabetic but my father is. I let my mom check my blood sugar 4 hours after eating breakfast and it was 169. Is this too high? I am concerned that I could be pre-diabetic or have gestational diabetes.

ANSWER:
Sorry, sweetheart … and I offer that as a general term of endearment. It is NOT intended to be offensive, insulting, obnoxious, sexist or any such thing though, I must admit, I have yet to use the term to an adult male, apart from my own two grown up sons, and one of their friends who I have unofficially ‘adopted’ as one of my own … but you may well have developed gestational diabetes.

You really need to tell your doctor(s) your findings as, I’m sure, they’ll wish to carry out further testing on you to be on the safe side.

Normally, in a non-diabetic, the blood sugar (glucose) level would be expected to fall back below 120 mg/dL within 2 hours of eating, and preferably below 100 mg/dL.

I’m not sure how much you know about diabetes during pregnancy, and the risks to both mother and child, so I won’t frighten you. I will say, however, that doctors would prefer your blood sugar level to be as close to ‘normal’ as possible.

Congratulations, by the way, on your pregnancy. May you have a successful pregnancy, and definitely no complications.

Blessings to you all.

QUESTION:
when to check sugar levels? gestional diabetes?
I was wondering how soon after I eat can should I check my sugar levels? An hour? I’m suppose to see a diabetes dieticion in a couple weeks and have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I’m being proactive and have started a diet and bought a glucose monitor.

So if there is any other advice I’d be happy to hear. Thank you!

ANSWER:
Guidelines:

less than 90 first thing in the morning
less than 130 1 hour after eating

I wanted to add that I saw on another question you aren’t eating Yoplait light yogurt now. I answered that question to – there is NOTHING wrong with those yogurts for diabetics. There is substantial research that shows carbohydrates/sugars are very dangerous for your baby when you’re a gestational diabetic. There is NO research that supports that you can’t eat artificial sweeteners. When you’re a diabetic you have to use the tools you have to keep you in line with your diet plan, and using artificial sweetener is an invaluable tool.

If you want to eat unsweetened yogurt then go right ahead, but know that adding anything like honey or sugar to that yogurt is more dangerous to a diabetic than eating a pre-packaged Yoplait light yogurt. Gestational diabetics also have to limit their fruit intake so you shouldn’t do that unless you know exactly how your blood sugar is reacting.

The dietitian will give you a complete meal plan going over your entire day of eating, so the sooner you see that person the better. Good luck!

QUESTION:
Your imput on Gestational Diabetes Sugar levels…?
I have had gestational diabetes since week 20… but have been able to control it solely with diet… however in the last couple of weeks my fasting levels have been going up (the one I can’t control, but after eating those are perfect) So the nurse told me today she was going to talk to the doctor and get back to me… if you have had this, at what fasting level did your doctor give you meds? Mine have been in the low hundreds the past two weeks, with an occasional one in the high 90′s… (they want them 90 and under) If you have any info it would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!

Mommy to 5 yr. old, 3 yr. old twins and 32 weeks pregnant with baby #4
Thanks! I just got the call from the doctor that i have to go in tomorrow to be given meds at bedtime, HOPEFULLY it will be the oral one everyone is talking about! Thanks for the info!

ANSWER:
they wanted mine 100 or under. when my fasting readings were up in the 110′s my OBgyn put me on Glyburide (i believe that’s the name)…i was to take it at bedtime to help bring my levels into check before the next day.
it was an oral medication. i was REALLY lucky they said, because before 2006 there wasn’t an oral medication that was approved for pregnant woman.

i had Gestational Diabetes 2 times, w/my last 2 children. both times my readings looked worse the farther along i got, and both times i was put on medication.
i tried to help it by eating a smaller Carb portion for dinner and then a light snack before bed, instead of just one big meal at dinner.

QUESTION:
i dont know if i have diabetes my sugar level was 118 before i ate and then 2 hours after it was 84…?
i just want to know if this is normal or should i be concerned?

ANSWER:
Normal blood sugars run from 80-120. Continue to check it if you are concerned, and if it goes beyond that range, then you might want to consider seeing a physician. ———————–

QUESTION:
I got some news that after not eating for 2 days I had a high sugar level whats the chance I have diabetes?
I had a virus that made me throw up constantly, I couldn’t even keep water down. After 2 days i went in and they hooked me up to an IV so i could get water back in my body. They also took some blood. When it came back, after having absolutely nothing in my stomach for 2 days, I had a high sugar level. They’re worried that it may be diabetes so they’re doing a new blood test thingy. Diabetes runs in my family, but it skipped my dad. What’s the chance I have it?

ANSWER:
The blood test is the proper way to go.

It is possible, though, that you have had a Liver Dump reaction. Your liver stores extra sugar for those times when you don;t get enough to eat, like you just described. When it thinks that you are “starving”, then it dumps that sugar into the blood.

The diabetic blood tests will be able to tell the difference between true diabetes and a simple liver dump.

QUESTION:
If I want to check my blood for sugar levels – but how long does one have to wait after eating and…?
what should my blood level be – I don’t have diabetes or anything.

ANSWER:
You should check your blood sugar level, in the morning before you eat, (fasting). Then during the day, two hours after eating. You should do this a couple of times each day for about a week, then take an average over the 7 day period. Your level should be 80 to 120 fasting ,and under 160 two hours after eating.

QUESTION:
Is it possible for your blood sugar level to decrease after eating?
I’m just curious if this has happened to any one else and what could possibly explain this. I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes and have to test my blood sugar before and after each meal. Before I eat my levels tend to be higher and after my meal they are drastically lower. For examplye I’ve tested at 230 before and after eating it decreased to 92. I’ve done a control test on my meter and it’s working fine and I’ve also purchased a second meter that does the same readings. Anyone have the same experiences?
I usually test about an hour after eating. Sometimes a little longer (but still in a 2 hour range) And I test from my finger not an alternative spot.

ANSWER:
This is actually a common response. When your body digest sugars into the bloodstream, the blood sugar goes up. Then your body reacts by shooting insulin in which causes blood sugar to drop back. Well the pancreas which creates the insulin doesn’t respond to signals right away and so it will continue to shoot insulin a little too long sometimes, which causes the blood sugar to drop below normal.
This by the way is why about 20 minutes after having a pop or some other sugar rush, people often feel tired.

QUESTION:
Diabetes sugar Levels Bedtime and Before Breakfast?
Ok I asked about my sugar level last night before I went to bed and I took level as I just got up before I went to bed. My first sugar level before I went to bed last night 3 hours after diner and it was 121 mg. I just woke up and took them (slept in a little) before I am going to eat breakfast and there 104 Mg. Is this a Normal blood sugar or is there something to worry about? I have to go to the bathroom allot, im fatigued and hungry allot, my hands and feet seem to fall asleep allot and I generally feel like crap all the time. Im 23 and also 40 ilbs overweight, but I’ve been watching my diet and it doesn’t seem to make a difference? Im going to a doctor anyway, but what do you think?

ANSWER:
That is actually very normal.

Pre-meal (fasting) should range 70-120 give or take.
Post meal should range 90-150 give or take.
Anything consistently over 170 is pre-diabetes or diabetes if you are overweight and over the age of 25.
If you are under 25 – as in your case, I dont think you have too much to worry about here, but 200+ is Diabetes for sure.

There are a lot of causes of frequent urination, your best bet is to go get a physical and explain your issues to the doctor. I would say for this case, Diabetes is not your problem.

QUESTION:
Blood sugar levels for gestational diabetes?
I am 38 weeks and have gestational diabetes. I know I’m almost done but I’m struggling with my blood sugar levels recently. I was told that I need to keep my blood sugar levels below 120 but I feel like I’m starving to death on the diet they put me on! I’ve been so hungry lately that I’m eating more than the diet says to eat. I just tested my sugar and it was 150. I was so frustrated that I tried looking up blood sugar levels online and all I could find were numbers like <140 or <180 for a normal person. If this is true then why do my blood sugar levels have to be <120????? They also told me after my 3 hour sugar test that I just barely qualified as diabetic. I'm worried about my baby being too big or having some other problems, but I've hardly gained any weight at all since I've been on this diet.

ANSWER:
Oh honey I hear ya!
I hate GD, I feel like I am permanently starving to death and I just want to eat!!! But I’m good and I stick to my diet and still have trouble keeping my levels down.
With my last baby I had GD and I stuck to the diet and exercise plan, I only gained 2kgs (approx 4lbs) and my levels still remained high. I had to go on insulin and when I reached 37 weeks the Dr started planning to induce me as I was just unable to control my levels. Thankfully my son was born at 38 weeks with no induction. He weighed an average 7lbs and had no problems, thank god.

Currently with this pregnancy I have GD again and am starving all the time. It really drives me mental. I am on insulin again and although my levels seem to have calmed down, its the insulin keeping them like that. I’ll be 37 weeks on Tuesday and am praying this little man comes soon so I can eat and actually feel full. And I’m the same as you, my levels were off by only one point on my test but it still makes me have GD.

I know its really hard (well it is for me) but you HAVE to stick to the diet and meal plan they gave you. Just remind yourself your doing all this for your baby. And it should all be over soon and then you can eat what you like, when you like and how much you like. Sticking to the diet/meal plan is a small price to pay to ensure the health of our babies.

I’m not sure exactly why our levels have to be different from those of other people with GD, but I think it has to do with the fact that our blood sugar levels are not just effecting us but the baby also. Plus all the insulin resistant hormones we have floating around and the fact that the baby is producing more or less insulin to make up for our sugar levels.

I really really do know where you are coming from. And it sucks majorly, but we just have to deal with it until our little ones are born. Thank God we are both not far from our due dates, lol. Just keep telling yourself its only for a couple of more weeks, only a couple more weeks.

I wish you all the best and hope you manage the next couple of weeks. Its hard but we are nearly at the finish line!!

QUESTION:
Question about blood sugar levels?
I was recently diagnosed with type II diabetes. My fasting blood sugar was 315. My doctor wanted to put me on some medication, but the pills she prescribed would cost me over 0 per month, which I can not afford. She said the only other option for me would be insulin, which at 32 years old, I absolutely do not want to be dependent on for the rest of my life. I spoke with some members of my family and my husband’s family that have diabetes, and they all agree that insulin is not a good option for me.

I have heard that exercising, changing my diet to a low sugar / low carb diet, and losing weight can actually make my diabetes reverse itself. I would like to try losing weight and changing my diet to bring down my blood sugar levels. Eating very little carbs & drinking lots of water has brought down my average blood sugar to 215 when fasting – around 300 after a complete meal. Sometimes after meals, if I can not exercise because of long hours at my desk job, my blood sugar will raise to as high as 380 or so, but most times it is 300 or less. My concern is whether this can be harmful to my body to have blood sugars levels of 215-350 on an every day basis while I try to get my diabetes under control? And what kind of harm can this do to my body? I really want to try to beat this on my own if possible, but I am scared to have high blood sugar on a daily basis while I try to undo the damage I have already done to my body by being overweight & not taking care of myself properly. Thanks for any advice & info.

ANSWER:
Blood sugar that high on a regular basis can be very damaging to your body. Levels over 140 mg/dL contribute to diabetic complications and you’re essentially double that all day, every day. I credit you for wanting to lose weight and adhere to a strict diet, but unfortunately you can’t get your blood sugar down to a healthy range on your own. Don’t feel ashamed or defeated. Insulin and oral medications are not a failure. They’re going to help us live a very long time hopefully.

I don’t know where you live, but in the United States, Metformin–the most commonly prescribed diabetic drug–costs per month at Target and Wal-Mart pharmacies. I suspect your doctor prescribed you something other than Metformin because she believes that Metformin won’t be enough to get your blood sugar under control. Metformin, unlike a lot of other diabetic drugs, does not stimulate your pancreas to produce more insulin. Metformin reduces the amount of glucose your liver releases and makes you more sensitive to the insulin you make. Thus, if you are very insulin deficient, Metformin probably won’t be enough. And with an FBG of 315 mg/dL, that might be what she thinks. I always think Metformin is worth a try, though, because of the low incidence of serious side effects and hypoglycemia.

Also, I know diabetics who had fasting levels as high or higher than yours who controlled blood sugar only on Metformin. My random blood sugar (non-fasting) when I was diagnosed was in the mid-300s, but I’m only on Metformin. My fasting blood sugar now ranges from 70-95 every day. It’s possible on a low-carbohydrate diet. I strongly suggest you make another appointment ASAP and demand Metformin. You have nothing to lose even if Metformin doesn’t work. Plus, Metformin sometimes helps with weight loss.

Finally, I encourage you to lose weight and try to go off medication or insulin one day. I do want to caution you about the word “reversal.” I have lost nearly 100 pounds since my diagnosis and I am still very much diabetic. My doctor promised me cures if only I could get the fat off because I was so young (late 20s) and otherwise in good health. Now, don’t get me wrong – blood sugar control has gotten easier and I have been able to reduce my medication. There’s no cure in sight, though. By the time blood sugar gets up as high as yours and mine, the pancreas has already lost a lot of function. We could get down to a perfect weight and possibly still not have enough function to control blood sugar without meds. And even if we could, we’d probably need to stay on a low-carbohydrate diet for life, which I’d be more than happy to do if it meant going off medication. I want you to strive for a goal, but I don’t want you to get your hopes up about a cure that’s just not going to happen. I’ve never known a diabetic to become cured through weight loss. I have known MANY diabetics who have lost weight, gone off meds, and controlled blood sugar through diet and exercise. That’s management, not reversal, but it’s something that I would love to have one day. And probably you would, too. So, all the best, and I hope your doctor signs off on the Metformin.

QUESTION:
Diabetes and blood sugar levels: fasting levels in pre range and random in normal range.?
For those who have diabetes or experts in the area of endocrinology: I have to wait until I have health insurance for a blood draw from a vein to confirm or rule out diabetes officially. I have been using accuchek to do fasting tests and those have been in the pre-diabetes range. I have done a couple of random tests and they seem to be in the normal range- 126 and 111 consequetively (different days) withint 2 to 5 hours or so of eating. What I can’t figure out is why then is my fasting test result elevated (after at least12 hours) ? I am not on any insulin so the somogyi affect doesn’t apply. I have had increased thirst of late. Might have some other symptoms but have to wait and see if those are temporary. A lot of symptoms I don’t count because some are normal for me so they woud have to be really noticeable or extreme. I haven’t been sleeping well lately either. I figured at first maybe that would go away but it hasn’t.
I think my health insurance starts in June sometime. I don’t want to add another pre-existing condition…want this to be covered whatever it turns out to be.

ANSWER:
get you health insurance girl===something is going on that isn’t right by the look of your description=good luck

I have been diagnosed with diabetes type 2 and I now try to control it, however, my blood sugar level after 2 hours still looks pretty high (ranging from 8-15, average around 10), but it usually goes down back to around 5 after 5 hours.

I know the blood sugar level is all depends on what you ate, activity, level of stress, hormone, etc etc, but I just want to know what is your average approximately?

Thanks.
By the way, I didn’t take any medicine or insulin, 27 in age and would be interested to know people with similar circumstances (age around 20-30 without any medicine or insulin).

ANSWER:
Most of us are about twice your age limit! and we aren’t afraid of the meds either!!

I work hard to keep mine back down to close to 8 after meals, around 2 hours.

I also absolutely never go more than 4 hours without eating a small meal. Good control means never spiking more than 175 and never getting hungry. It is a little hard to do, but can be done – with or without meds and insulins.

QUESTION:
Type 2 Diabetes: Blood sugar level reducing from above 300 to 150 – 180 range?
Over the last 2 years I have been losing weight, almost 25 pounds, my waist reduced by almost 2 inches, and during this period started feeling very tired during all day. Finally I visited my family primary care physician in Oct 2010. After lab test I realized that I had type 2 diabetes condition, with my blood sugar levels about 286 ( after lunch).

Primary care physician referred me to a endocronologist, who wanted to put me on insulin ( a dose of 16 ) straight away. I did not like the idea. My reason was that, now that I know the cause of what is going wrong in my body, I need to give myself a chance to do all that is possible to redress the situation for a couple of months, and at that stage re-assess and take the decesion to get on to insulin.

It has been two weeks since I started making changes to my life style like switching to low glycemic foods ( of below 40 ), and exercising on a daily basis at a medium level, and checking my blood sugar using ONE touch Ultra2 on a daily basis ( at least 8 to 10 times) to understand the increase and decrease in blood sugar levels in response to my eating times, excercise, stress etc. The other big change I have brought about is to give up battles in my mind which I dont need to fight, out of all the changes this has proved to be tough and is still proving to be tough.

To my surprise and happiness, Im seeing my blood sugar levels dropping as a result of my above efforts. During the course of my monitoring I realized that there is a upper cap of my blood sugar in 320s and lower cap in early 200s. This was before 2 weeks.

Since the time I have been eating low glycemic breakfast lunch dinner, lots of water, excercise at least once a day ( 40 minute brisk walk), my blood sugar levels have gone down to a range of 114 to 197. Since the last 4 days there has been only once instance when my blood sugar went above 200.

My early morning reading i.e. fasting reading is still high it is averaging about 130 – 140 over the last 10 days, my after meal reading is average between 155-175.

3. questions:

1. What should I do to reduce my early morning i.e. on fast without food or water reading ? I want to bring it down to around 75 to 85.

2. I have reduced carbs which has helped a lot, and switched to salads and meat. But body also needs carbs. What are the best sources of carbs in my context?

3. I have observed that even though my blood sugar is less than 140 ( which is the standard for after meal) or in specific between 120 and 140, I feel some level of dizziness, and also some head ache early in the morning. Is this because of the reason that my blood sugar levels are coming back to normal after a long time i.e. I might have been in the 200s and early 300s for a long time, and over the last couple of weeks due to changes made to food and excercise it is being in the range of 130s – 180s ?? Is my body in the process of getting adjusted to the new relatively low blood sugar levels ?

What are the symptoms we should expect when blood sugars are coming down to relatively low level from higher levels?

Thanks in advance.

OTN
Just want to add that my urine still smells sweet and is yellow in color. At what stage can I expect this to reduce. Note that when my blood sugar level is less than 150, the sweet smell in the urine goes down and the urine color is also light.
My early morning fasting reading is the issue here. It is averaging around 150 to 160 over the last 2 weeks i.e. since I started taking low glycemic foods, excercise daily. Im quite sure it must have been much higher earlier. I want to tackle this area first, please suggest. What and when should I be eating the evening before to get my early morning readings to around 120 which is my first goal, before trying for 90.

Im not on any medication.

My readings during the day i.e. after breakfast, lunch, dinner currently are 150 to 160 before , and 2 hours later they settle at the same i.e.150-160 or go a little lower into 140s.

It is obvious that I should be tackling my early morning readings first.

ANSWER:
You seem to be on the right track.. But you never mentioned if you are taking Metformin.
Here’s the Key:

There are 4 key steps to controlling glucose levels :

1) EXERCISE- Walking is fine but Nordic Walking is Great. Exercise also lowers Glucose levels , lowers Cholesterol and lowers Blood Pressure. Google it.Exercise is Non-Negotiable !!!Thats why it is Number 1 on the list.
2) Knowledge- http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/index.ph… This is a great site for info
diet- A low carb diet is in order. I can’t count carbs so I use Mendosa’s Glycemic Index Diet. Great for the whole family. http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm
3) Meds. Metformin to start. Never , ever take Actos or Avandia. They may kill you. Bone fractures, heart problems and what diabetics really don’t need is that they change Bone Stem Cells to Fat Cells.
4) Diet- A low carb diet is in order. I can’t count carbs so I use Mendosa’s Glycemic Index Diet. Great for the whole family. http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm

My fasting is 96 and HBA1C is 5.2.
There are no miracles, just attitude and dedication. If you have depression , treat it . Because when depressed you don’t take care of yourself properly.

Take care

TIN

QUESTION:
My blood sugar level is 141 one hour after eating, should I seek a doctor?
I have been having some symptoms of diabetes over the past month (constant thirst, tired, etc.) so I decided to test my sugar levels today.

Here’s my food intake for today, I didn’t test for the orange I ate for a snack. Water was drank at all meals.

For breakfast I had half of a cheese bagel from Panera with about a tbsp of pepper jelly.
One hour level was 123 and 2 hour was 113.

Lunch was a Smart Ones meal with Spanish rice and some tamales.
One hour was 128 and 2 hour was 118.

For dinner I had a small piece of beef, some asparagus, mashed potatoes and to really test it I ate a bag of M&Ms immediately afterwards.

1 hour is 141, I haven’t reached the 2 hour mark yet.

The reason I’m asking here is because I’m finding conflicting information on the net. Some sites say 120 is the high after eating, and some say 140. In a normal person is it common to jump that high after eating candy, or should they still stay within the normal range?

I’m feeling kinda jittery after eating the candy, I won’t be doing that again.

ANSWER:
I’d see your doctor. It’s possible that you have diabetes (especially considering your symptoms) but I’m thinking that you probably have impaired glucose tolerance. This is the point where you’re not officially diabetic, but you’re at a higher risk for diabetes. But, go see your doctor. Only he/she can truly evaluate you and give you a diagnosis (or not). If you are a diabetic, early diagnosis and treatment can help you avoid the long-term complications. If you are not diabetic, maybe there is something else that is going on that can be treated.

In the meantime, a healthy diet (limit the refined carbs, go for whole grains and carbs that have a lot of fiber, fruits, veggies, lean protein, healthy fats but limit the saturated fats and try to avoid the trans fats) is always a good thing. Unless there’s a reason why you can’t, exercise can also do wonders–both in treating and helping to prevent/delay diabetes.

QUESTION:
checking blood sugar levels..(with gastational diabetes)?
i m almost 35 weeks preg and diagnosed with gastational diabetes…
i m checking my blood sugar every day after meals…
usually fasting sugar comes up to be around low 70s..which i know is fine…but after meals i check after 1 hour and it comes in 120s range…i just want to know if that is too high…my dr told me that my sugar should be less than 120 so i m just a lil worried..as far as my diet, i m not eating anything sweet..only fruits and vege….and i usually eat 2 chapati, roti or bread…
so just wondering if my sugar is normal and if i m really suppose to check after 1 hour of meals…

ANSWER:
TALK TO THE DIETICAN…

QUESTION:
Testing sugar levels. What is diabetic and what is not?
A nurse at hospital tested by blood sugar levels when i was fasting and after. The nurse said 2 to 4 was a normal level for someone who didn’t have diabetes and had been fasting. Is this accurate?
My tested levels are below…
- Fasting Blood Sugar levels were 4.9
- After eating blood sugar levels were 5.4
Is there some sort of chart i can refer to? I want to know if i have diabetes or not. (I have PCOS which is a pre-diabetic condition).

ANSWER:
Hi El,

That is a perfect result sweetheart considering you have PCOS. Nothing to worry about there.

I have been trying to find a site to help you, the best one I have come up with so far is www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/16422495.php
If you scroll down to the heading NORMAL FASTING BLOOD SUGAR everything below that heading will explain the normal ranges of blood sugar to you.

Hope this helps.

Love Mel.X

QUESTION:
Diabetes – blood sugar going from hypo to hyper?
I was diagnosed with diabetes on Monday and have just started taking glyclazide.

Today is a bit wierd, in the hour my blood sugar level has gone from 3.7 to 9.9 (before eating to after eating).

I feel a bit wierd and shakey, are these normal levels?

ANSWER:
A BGL of 3.7 is considered hypoglycaemia, explaining the feelings of being unwell and shakey. You should treat a hypo with something like 5-7 jelly beans (that’s what I use) in order to bring the glucose back up to normal.

You have probably experienced a re-bound effect of having a low BGL and then your body compensating for this by dumping glucose into the bloodstream. Also, you had something to eat, so naturally the BGL would rise. However, a glucose of 9.9mmol/L 1 hour after eating is pretty good. Usually if the BGL is <10mmol/L 2 hours after eating, it's considered normal. You may need to contact your doctor though, as your medicaiton dose may need adjusting. It takes some time to fine tune doses, and you have only recently been diagnosed, so expect a lot of consultation with you diabetes team! Good luck!

QUESTION:
blood sugar level 8.5-9.6 after eating, could i be diabetic?
Hi, so i have been having symptoms after i eat, feeling nauseous, after i eat, dizzy, like if i stand up from sitting everything goes black for a few seconds, itchy legs- not just after i eat though, and i tired. then an hour hour or so after i eat i get very thirsty. i have very dark wee too. (sorry for the graphic detail!).
So my mum said it could be blood sugar levels. the last two days i decided to check them before i eat, after i eat, morning and night.
in the morning im between 4.5 and 5.5
before i eat 4.5 – 5.5
30 min after i eat 8.5 – 9.6
1 hour after i eat 6 – 7
night time 6 – 7

what do you think? could i hae diabetes? or do you think something else is causing these aymptoms.
i have a doc app in a couple of weeks, but i just really want to know asap.
thank you very much
forgot to say, i have lost weight over the last three months also, gone from 54kg to 46kg. 165cm height. i dont look healthy at all. currently trying to gain weight. im 22 female.

ANSWER:
Okay. Just to make you aware Type 1 diabetes is due to the lack of insulin and type 2 diabetes is due to cell’s resistance to insulin. If you are using the bathroom ALOT, if you feel like you can’t drink enough water to stay hydrated, If you are losing weight without trying, experiencing weakness or fatigue, skin that is dry or itchy, cuts and bruises that take a long time to heal and if you have tingling or numbness in your hands, legs, or feet. These are all signs of diabetes. It is a really good idea to visit a doctor. If you can move your app up that would be great also.

QUESTION:
Gestational Diabetes and normal blood sugar levels??
What is the normal blood sugar of someone who is pregnant after eating dinner? Or the recommended amount of sugar for that time?
My doc said I am borderline diabetic so he didnt really have any explanations and I have a blood sugar monitor, and I was 123 after dinner two hours after. I wanted to make sure that it was ok. I dont want to have a 10 pound baby!!
Oh he said I was ok’d not to have to monitor it, by how low my scores were. I am chubby but not giant and I just was wondering..

ANSWER:
Hello – targets during pregnancy are a little lower than normal diabetes. You should be aiming for 130 or less ONE hour after eating, 120 or less TWO hours after eating (you only have to measure once, not both hours).

Fasting blood sugar should be 90 or less in the morning.

123 is so close to the target that I wouldn’t worry. If you want, wait a week and measure again to see if the baby’s growth has affected those numbers. But don’t drive yourself crazy worrying about it.

QUESTION:
Diabetes Blood sugar 3 hours after dinner near bed time?
Hi, I bought a blood sugar test kit after as I’ve been experiencing allot of the symptoms for diabetes, Im 23 also about 40 lbs overweight and Diabetes runs in the family. I tested my self 3 hours after dinner. I had 3 healthy meals today an one beer with dinner. My sugar level read 121 Mg. I test my sister who had ate at the same time and her level was 92 Mg. Is my level a concern. Im going to get checked out by the doctor soon and record my level for the time being. Thanks.

QUESTION:
I need to know how my heart murmur is affecting my diabetes 2 blood sugar level when I am under stress.?
I monitor my blood sugar regularly through out the day, fasting, before & after meals and at bedtime. On normal days my readings are normal but whenever I am stressed emotionally or physically I see significantly higher blood sugar levels than normal. I exercise regulary and watch my diet; I am keeping a journal of what I eat, my readings and how my day has gone. I am seeing a pattern of increased blood sugar levels on the occasions I feel extreme stress and I am aware at these times that my heart is responding with “fight or flight” symtoms. I would really like some help and insight with this and what types of things I can do to help myself. Thank you,

ANSWER:
Elevated blood sugar levels are perfectly normal when the body is under any type of stress. Mine goes up every time I get sick or stressed out. The more you exercise, the lower the spikes will become. Get the book I recommend on my diabetes info webpage. It will help you understand the disease better and how to treat it more effectively. Plus, there’s all kinds of useful info there:

http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/Type_II_Diabetes.html

QUESTION:
I’m 30wks pregnant and have gestational diabetes. Should I be concered about these sugar levels?
I was advised by the dietitian to check my blood sugar one hour after each meal and that it should be no higher than 140. When I check my levels one hour after eating they are still running high (between 145 and 150) but when I check them two hours after eating they are back down to between 100 and 110. Is there a reason why it is spiking so high after the first hour, but leveling off during the second hour? Should I be concerned about this or speak to my doctor about being put on insulin?
I have been on the ‘diet’ for 2 weeks now. No more than 30 carbs for breakfast- and most times I stay even below that level. I’m not going over my allotted carb intake at all, but my levels are still too high after 1 hour.

ANSWER:
Yes you should be concerned. Talk to your doctor about what you are eating, changing your diet may go along way towards reducing those spikes. Do not make changes with out talking to your doctor or a dietitian.

QUESTION:
How soon after eating should I check my blood sugar?
I think I might have diabetes, and I bought a cheap little glucose monitor. I am going to use it for a couple of weeks and keep a log of it (to have valid info before I pay for a doctor visit). I was wondering how much time I need to allow myself after eating to before I check it? And what are good levels when I wake up in the morning, after eating, etc.?

ANSWER:
I take my reading in the morning before eating. This is the time of highest readings, 115 and again before the evening which is my lowest readings 85. For me they are higher in the morning because of sleeping all night and all that inactivity. I stop eating anything after 8:00 pm. I am diabetic.

If you haven’t had a physical for over year now would be a good time and have blood work up. The HbA1C test will give you your average blood glucose levels for the last 90 days. It’s a very telling test and hard to fool. The reason for the physical to be baseline if you do turn out diabetic you can monitor changes or discover damage.

I recommend you visit my blog site and print off the Blood Glucose Level chart. It relates HbA1C and daily finger prick blood glucose test results. If you see a doctor take the chart with and discuss it with the doctor.

Best Wishes.

QUESTION:
Blood sugar levels in normal people?
What is the normal blood sugar level in a normal person without diabetes after they eat some kind of sugar or something?

ANSWER:
I got these numbers from my doctor who is an endocrinologist, and also from the ADA. We also discussed them in one of my diabetic ed. classes

Readings for those that do NOT have diabetes

Fasting….70 to 100
2 hours after a meal …70 to 140

QUESTION:
Ok my glucose sugar level is 112 after I ate cereal, two bags of chips and two icecream sandwiches and drank?
2 glasses of water.

Do i have pre-diabetes???????

i took the glucose sugar test 2 hrs after i ate and drank.

Would my blood sugar level be way lower if i didn’t eat this junk?

ANSWER:
You will only know if you have the disease if you talk to your physician. Because 112 is normal blood sugar level for a diabetic. If you aren’t, that probably is an indication you might have that disease. That’s why you have to talk to an internist and ask him/her what blood sugar range is considered “normal” for you.

QUESTION:
Diabetes “normal” blood sugar levels?
I have done a lot of reading online about what normal results are for blood sugar levels and the majority of health sites seem to say 70 to 100.

I test myself with a home kit about once a week because diabetes runs in my family. My lowest was 62 and my highest is never over 71. I seem to get the number 69 a lot. I test in the afternoons, at least two hours after I have eaten lunch, as suggested on different sites for the most accurate reading.

Should I be considered that my blood sugar is constantly on the low side, even though I am only one point from what it considered normal on average?

ANSWER:
It is low but fine if you feel good
generally, you did not say if your tests are fasting tests or after breakfast by 2 hours because it is how diagnostic opinion should depend on
however, here are the most normal readings:
1) fasting for at least 8 hours= from 70 to 100 mg/dl
2) hours after breakfast (after starting to eat and eating should not take more than 15 minutes) = less than 140 mg/dl
3) any Random test not precisely dependent of eating = less than 200 mg/dl

good luck

QUESTION:
After eating a meal after heavy exercise, I sometimes get a sinus headache. What does it mean?
I’ve been told maybe it’s something to do with how our blood sugar level is low after exercise and eating a meal can raise it quite a bit, hence this leading to the sinus headache…but is it normal? Does it mean I have diabetes? What can I do to treat it?

ANSWER:
Wow, well this is an interesting one. I’m not so sure how a sinus headache and a sudden increase in blood sugar are related, but i suppose there are ways to find out if this is indeed the case. The way to do this would be to actually check your blood sugar. If i were you i would avoid actually going out and buying a meter and just find a friend who has one (just use fresh lancelets, don’t use theirs!!!!). I did this before i found out that i was hypoglycemic. It’s not like you are taking someone elses medicine or something. Using the meter, you can check two things. First you can see where you blood sugar is at after you excersise, right before your meal, and then compare it to after your meal, most preferably when you actually have the headache. And second you can check your fasting blood sugar, or your sugar immediately upon waking up before you eat anything. A fasting blood sugar level under 100 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood (mg/dL) is considered normal. If your blood sugar level is 100 to 125mg/dL, you could have prediabetes. I wouldn’t rely on this for diagnosis, but this definitely can give you an idea and something you can take to your doctor.

I’m not sure of the possibility, but if you are having sinus issues after eating you may also want to pay attention to what you eat and the possibility of a food allergy? I can’t elaborate too much on this not knowing a lot about your situation though. I’ll just say that food allergies are actually quite common. I have an allergy to gluten, and although i don’t usually have a lot of sinus pressure, i can sometimes feel a little in the cheek area.

So i don’t know if this is a tremendous amount of help, but at least you can have ways of checking yourself for the diabetes. If you can’t resolve this and it becomes an issue i would definitely suggest going to your doctor. It’s always easier when you’ve already ruled out some possibilites for the doctor (although some are too stubborn to listen). Good luck!!!!

QUESTION:
Type 1 Diabetics … what is a normal blood sugar right after eating?
My 2 year old has type 1 diabetes, and she has to take insulin for everything she eats. They told me an accurate blood sugar reading is at least 2 hours after her last bite, but i’ve recently begun taking her sugar level earlier to make sure she isn’t too low. She’s gotten a few lows lately. Anyway, I just took her sugar an hour after her meal and it’s 351 mg/dl. Isn’t this really high?? Or is this normal for someone in her condition? I’m not a diabetic myself, but I’ve tested myself with her meter at different times and it never goes high no matter what I eat.

Yeah, I should ask her doctor, but it’s Saturday, and even when I call during normal office hours with a simple question they make a big deal out of it, like I’m bothering them. So I thought I would try here first.

Thanks in advance!
The range they want her at for 2 hours after meals & first thing in the morning is 100-200. She’s newly diagnosed, so I don’t know a lot yet.
Okay … my first two answerers must not have read the question correctly. This question is for TYPE ONE DIABETICS. Answerer #1 – I know candy makes my child’s blood sugar go up, everyone knows that. Answerer #2 – There will be a greater range for diabetics, and then diabetic children. You’re thinking of a normal person without diabetes.

-Please, only answer if you know something about type 1 diabetes. Thanks.
When I say she’s newly diagnosed, I mean a month and a half. And when she first came home from the hospital her 2 hr blood sugars were 400+ every day. At that point you don’t take them back to the hospital, you tell the doc and they adjust their daily insulin. The one hour blood sugar check isn’t supposed to be valid. But then there are things the docs don’t tell me on their own. I don’t want a nasty surprise when they take her next A1C.
Ken,

You’re right, they have her target range higher than an adults because she’s so little.

But I was under the impression that the target range they gave her (100 – 200) was for the 2 hour reading. Or is it supposed to be overall? Ugh, now I’m going to be worrying all weekend.

And thank you for the tips, I will try them out.

ANSWER:
my daughter is 13 and type 1 since she was 5 (so I know) to give you an example…it depends on the insulin she is on…my daughter is on novarapid and she has to test 3 hours after she eats because that is how long it acts for. She has done her reading 30 mins etc after she eats and it is high…the insulin hasn’t had a chance to do the job. Your daughter is probably on humalog? If you daughter is just recently diagnosed then please just make sure you keep really good records, give it the two hours and if it is happening (hypos)after the same meal every day then that insulin needs to be cut back (after you speak to your nurse/doctor) Diabetes is a big deal, you have every right to ring the doctors surgery. I will tell you Mother to Mother, do whatever you can, find out as much as you can and do the best you can because it is a big burden to bear and a huge worry, all the time. I still sometimes go into my daughters room at 2am to do a fingerprick if she has been at the pool or something because I know they can just plummet so quick. When your daughter is a bit older, look into the insulin pump, it is better control, no more needles, frees up their meals and what they can eat. Gives them a lot more freedom Send me an email (on my profile) if you want to chat

QUESTION:
What is a high level of blood sugar during gestational diabetes to have big babies?
I am consistently checking my blood sugar and it is usually 95-105 in the morning. I am usually 115-160 after eating. I am wondering if these levels are too high and will cause me to deliver a large baby? I do not take insulin or diabetic pills, so far I have been diet controlled. What are high levels that WILL cause you to have a large baby.

ANSWER:
Yes, you’re too high. Based on your numbers, I would say that you’re not diet controlled. You need to stop the refined carbs, and switch to more wholesome natural foods if you want the healthiest possible baby. You should also include some daily exercise and bring your weight down. Instead of concerning yourself with numbers that might cause a large baby, you should be shooting for normal blood sugar levels and let the baby develop naturally.

QUESTION:
Are my Blood Sugar levels OK?
HI, I am paranoid and I worry A LOT! I have hypothyroidism and Type 2 Diabetes. My blood sugar levels are anywhere between 80 – 130 2 hours after a meal or exercise, are these numbers ok? I am usually under 120, but when I get into the 130′s I get worried. I am still working on regulating my thyroid, I have just upped my does again, and will check in a month to see if I need more. My doctor says do not worry, that my numbers will continue to fall, he said he has been doing it for 26 years, and I will not believe what “fixes itself” when I get my thyroid in line. I still worry about my blood sugar. I eat only 100 to 120 carbs a day and exercise. I have also lost 37 pounds since September 5th, when they first told my I was diabetic. I found out about the thyroid 6 weeks later, when I changed doctors. I just need to know if my numbers are good. I am only taking 250 to 500 mg Metformin once a day. And 75 mcg Synthroid. My blood pressure went from 150/105 down to 117/76 without meds.

ANSWER:
The goal for people with diabetes is to have their premeal btw 90-130 and their post meal to be less than 180 so you are doing well. Exercising definately helps with regulating blood sugar and your blood pressure is good you want it to be less than 130/80.

QUESTION:
Can having gout cause high sugar levels in blood or vice versa.
I have been feeling exhausted lately and a bit sick in the mornings then I took gout in my fingers went to GP and he did a random blood sugar test. Now he wants a second fasting one as my first was high. I did have a bowl of frosties(reduced sugar) for my breakfast before I had the random one could that have caused it to be high? If so though surely most people must have high sugar levels in the morning after eating cereal.Anyway could it be diabetes?

ANSWER:
any infections at all will raise glucose levels in anyone and having any cereal at all will for sure not help that.

Yes, do the fasting glucose to be sure you don’t have a “sugar” problem. It probably isn’t, but it is much better to catch it near the beginning rather than after it has done some damage to tiny peripheral nerves and blood vessels.

try a lower carb food plan than the one you are currently eating. It will help with weight, the gout problem, and any sugar problem you have. I like South Beach.

My wife recently diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes (GDM). Her 50gr glucose test came over 200 (3hr test supported first finding). She was put on a diet by her perinatalogist (high-risk pregnancy doc) about a week ago. However her fasting and 1hr after breakfast blood glucose levels (BGL) are still relatively high (fasting ~95, 1 hr after breakfast ~150). 1 hr after lunch and 1 hr after dinner levels are normal (both ~110). Her fasting BGL should be <90 and 1 hr after eating <140. So anybody has any idea how bad is 95 compared to a 90 limit and how bad is 150 compared to 140 limit? Will she need insulin? Any idea why her BGL is high in the morning? Any suggestion for us to get it lower in the morning only? Can anyone out there with GDM can tell us her levels so that we can compare? Are pills ok during pregnancy (I read at several places thay they are not, but some says ok). Thanks!

ANSWER:
From personal experience, the ranges that the doctor gives are concrete. For the baby’s health, you need to make sure that her BGs stay within those ranges. Anything above or below can lead to problems, short and long term. Obviously the more time you spend outside the ranges, the worse it is.

Second, if the doctor does eventually put her on insulin, she needs to get a pump. No doubt about it. The control offered by the pump is the best out there, and you will be able to customize the insulin given to the way her BGs are trending.

Lastly, the other thing you may want to consider is a continuous glucose monitor like Medtronic’s Guardian system. It will give you continuous readings of her BG and will alert you when she is going out side the ranges set by the MD. That way you dont have to worry, and she can easily control her glucose without much effort.

QUESTION:
Is it possible to have diabetes but not high BSLs?
A person without diabetes should maintain the same sugar levels regardless of whether they’ve just eaten or not. A person with diabetes has high sugar levels after eating (if he doesn’t control the amount of sugar or use insulin) but has low sugars if he fasts. The highest I’ve ever seen my BSLs is 8.4 & that was immediately after a can of coke & a chocolate. In the mornings (or if I havnt eaten for a while) my sugars can be as low as 2.3. I am severe asthmatic and have had about 12 courses of steroids over the last 12 months & pretty much the same every year. I know the steroids (prednisolone) can cause diabetes & problems with BSLs, but research leads me to it being on the high end of the scale. When I was in hospital last (2 weeks ago) the nurses kept waking me up in the night to eat & it was really annoying. Im really confused tho cuz the doctors never mentioned anything about my BSLs, just the nurses. Just wondering, in prediabetes, is it usually low BSLs like I’m getting or high?

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
My grandfather is 77 years old and goes in and out of sanity when his blood sugar level is low? Help?
For about a year now my grandfather has been having these attacks…Where his sugar or diabetes level goes really low and he’s completely out of it. He talks out of his head [saying random things], incoherent, hard to understand, yells alot, and in his recent attack he kept talking about his deceased brother…Saying “he was coming to see him”. He had his latest attack early this morning he was screaming and vomiting and hard to manage. We slipped a peppermint in his mouth [it usually gets his diabetes level back to normal when it goes too low] he kept spitting it out and it took hours to get him back to his normal state…Is it just because his sugar level is low or is it something else? He goes to the doctor regularly and they’ve never discovered anything…What should I do? After his blood sugar level goes back to normal so does he but he doesn’t remember the attack at all…Plus he’s loosing weight and he eats alot…What could be wrong? Help please?
He has a machine to monitor his blodd sugar level and takes insulin for his diabetes.

ANSWER:
Its called having a hypoglycaemic attack.

You should look at his diet and ensure that he is eating enough complex sugars (eg fruit and carbs) to avoid these hypo’s. Everytime he has one he is at risk of falling unconscious (with death a possbility). Also every hypo kills off a few brain cells.

When he has them try smearing honey in his mouth instead as he can’t spit that out as easily.

Get him a blood glucose monitor and have him check his levels every 4 hours – if they fall below normal (which I think is 4-10mmol/L – check with doctor as I am a Vet Tech and only am sure about animals) then he needs to eat some thing sugary eg diet coke, fruit juice, jelly beans.

QUESTION:
about type 2 diabetes and blood sugar level?
i was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes just two weeks ago and i have been taking metformin for the last two weeks i cant get my blood sugar level below 7.1 thats 4hrs after eating is this bad i am on a very low carb no sugar diet even though i am not greatly over weight and i excercise every day in the morning it is still over 7.1 what should my blood sugar level be?

ANSWER:
That’s not fun getting that diagnosis. Stick in there though, Type 2 is NOT a death sentence. You already know that and you also know that’s it’s quite manageable too.

Having 7.1, four hours after eating is not bad, especially since you have type 2 but there room for improvement. You should consider testing your sugar at different times, waking, before eating, two hours after eating, before bed and keep a log to see what your baseline is. That way you will know if your improving or not.

You do want to keep your blood sugar level to normal ranges as possible. Remember though, you didn’t develop type 2 within two weeks. It’s going to take longer then two weeks to bring it down. You can do it though.

On diet, your avoiding sugar, very wise move. When it comes to your carbs, go for more whole grains and fiber packing foods and stay away from white flour. Don’t be afraid to seek out a dietian, that’s their job.

Keep up the daily exercises. That will keep a lid on your blood sugar. Also, if your overweight, you should drop a few pounds, even a modest weight loss will help lower your blood sugar. If your a healthy weight already, maintain your weight, extra body fat will push up that sugar.

Manage your blood sugar and nothing will prevent you from having a full, happy, and productive life.

QUESTION:
Diabetes: Blood Sugar Question?
Hello All,

I am type 2 Diabetic. The past week I have been feeling under the weather. No fever but alot of throat congestion,It may be an alergy problem. I don’t have insurance right now as I was cut from my job. So I’m buying my Novolin N insulin in which I only take 40 units during the morining.

I noticed my levels are abit higher than normal. I have this issue to where my sugar lever must be lower than 100 to be normal and not much higher after eating.

In the morning I noticed that my sugar levels range from 150 – 180 when I wake up. After I take my insulin and eat my sugar goes down to around 120. During the day its around 120-150. I can’t get it lower.

Morning- 150-180′s
mid day- 130′s
lunch time 130-140
evening 140.

These are before meals. I try not to eat carbs or alot. I eat mostly turkey bacon,string cheese “lightly” sausage links,chicken breast skinless and baked with a small serving of mashed pot and salad.

For evening snack its usually turkey bacon with a carb pita “5 carbs” each pita. usually eat 2.

I also take Zantac in the evening because I get really bad acid indegestion at night. Any help would be great. I was told that my sugar isn’t really high but for me it seems like it.

30yrs old. I’m just scared of dying so I try keeping it low.
Thank You everyone. I have never been more stressed out in my entire life. When I don’t check my levels I’m fine. As soon as I check my levels I become a nut job. My wife tells me to chill out but its so hard. As a father of 2 I hope to live a long life. Diabetes runs in both sides of the family too. Good luck to everyone who also has it.

ANSWER:
It sounds like you are really working hard to take care of your diabetes, so that’s good. A cold can definitely bring up your numbers , btw. I do think your morning readings are high. You may be experiencing what is called “Dawn Phenomenon”… maybe adjusting your insulin dosage and taking a portion either very early in AM, or last thing at night.

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
Target sugar level chart for child?
I am trying to find a chart of target sugar levels for a child, as well as too high too low. We are testing my daughter for the next week and a half. My doctor is on vacation and while I am testing I would like to know the range we are shooting for. My mother in law has it and I know how dangerous it can be, does anyone know or have a link to an actual chart for kids. She is 7 and I can only find information on diabetes not the chart like my mother in law has. My doctor mentioned it is different for kids, and no one else at the clinic wants to address this, they all want it to be her doctor.
We are testing her for diabetes but my doctor is on vacation and no one will give me info they said it needs to be from her, but the walk in tested her and said it was high and wanted us to monitor her at home until the dr. gets back but would not give me a specific range. This morning it was 119 and 2 hours after breakfast was only 68, I called and they said just keep a record but would not give me specifics, it is very frustrating. She had a bladder infection that is cleared but is still going too often, she also drinks a ton of water but always has, she has been tested before but this is the first time it showed high, they said it was 119 and that was too high for them, so I am kind of at a stand still until my doctor gets back. Thanks for answering and info helps.

ANSWER:
Normal sugar levels for kids are the same as for adults. Fasting levels should be 70 – 100, and 1.5 to 2 hours after a meal should be under 140. Random tests, no matter how long ago you ate, or what was eaten, should be under 180. Your daughter’s levels may go up and down faster than an adults, especially if she is an active child, but it shouldn’t be a problem for her. Hope this helps!

QUESTION:
Testing sugar levels. What is diabetic and what is not?
A nurse at hospital tested by blood sugar levels when i was fasting and after. The nurse said 2 to 4 was a normal level for someone who didn’t have diabetes and had been fasting. Is this accurate?
My tested levels are below…
- Fasting Blood Sugar levels were 4.9
- After eating blood sugar levels were 5.4
Is there some sort of chart i can refer to? I want to know if i have diabetes or not. (I have PCOS which is a pre-diabetic condition).

ANSWER:
Hi El,

That is a perfect result sweetheart considering you have PCOS. Nothing to worry about there.

I have been trying to find a site to help you, the best one I have come up with so far is www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/16422495.php
If you scroll down to the heading NORMAL FASTING BLOOD SUGAR everything below that heading will explain the normal ranges of blood sugar to you.

Hope this helps.

Love Mel.X

QUESTION:
blood sugar level question (kinda long)?
hi, today my dad had a dr. appt to get meds for his diabetes. When they checked him in they said that his blood sugar level was off the chart like 600 and that he needed to get to the ER. He is there now, they gave him an insulin shot, have him on an IV because he is dehydrated.. Lately he’s been very thirsy, and peeing alot, also he just had cataract surgery (don’t know if it applies to anything) Anyway ahwile after the insulin shot they checked his blood sugar level and it is now 810.. My question is what can they do to help him? is he going to be ok? They are admitting him overnight and keeping close watch on him.
Any info. please. Thank you

ANSWER:
First on foremost, IV fluids and alot of it like 3-4 liters.

Next More IV Fluids.

Then more IV Fluids.

Your dad is really dehydrated and giving suncutaneous insulin will not work. Insulin will need to be given intravenously.

Next start an insulin drip. Do hourly blood sugar test and titrate upwards if it is still high.

Rule any underlying issues like heart attack, infection that may be increasing his sugars. Check blood work and make sure pottasium, magnesium, phospate are okay. Would do it every4-6 hours.

Needs to be in ICU.

QUESTION:
Do I have diabetes or am I just being paranoid?
Hello everybody. I apologize in advance because this will prolly look like an essay by the time i’m done. I’m a 21 yr old male. 5’6″ 185 lbs. I do alot of cardio and weight training. I’m a little overweight but in no way obese. I don’t really have a family history of diabetes. I do however consume an abundant amount of carbs and sugar a day. Anyways, about 2 weeks ago I started feeling extremely thirsty. It seemed like no matter how much water I’d drink, I would still feel thirsty. It felt like the inside of my body was evaporating. I did some research to see what can possibly be causing this and the first thing that came up was diabetes. I freaked out and automatically diagnosed myself with having diabetes. I didn’t tell my parents because I didn’t want to worry them. Unfortunately over the past week I developed a few more symptoms, an increase in appetite, urinating more frequently, and a tingly sensation in my hands and feet (Only happens when my hands and feet are in a certain position like when my feet are crossed). After those symptoms came about, I knew I needed to be checked out. However since I don’t have a doctor because I just moved to Florida from NY 2 months ago, I went to the hospital. I explained my symptoms to the doctor and told her my fear of possibly having diabetes. She took my blood pressure, temperature, 8 tubes of blood and a urinalysis (I knew they were going to take my blood to check my sugar, so the day before so I took it upon myself to fast. I fasted for about 14-15 hrs) Finally after waiting about 30 min, the doctor came in and told me the results. She said my blood pressure and urinalysis were normal, and that my sugar level of 106 was normal and did not indicate any diabetes. I was extremely relieved and i asked her if it’s possible for my symptoms to be nothing or just all in my mind brought on by paranoia. She said yes. Now when I got home i was curious as to what a sugar level would have to read to indicate diabetes. So i came across a chart that states for a fasting blood sugar of 126 or higher usually means a person has diabetes, 100-125 is pre-diabetes, with 80-99 considered normal. My reading was 106; So according to the chart I have pre-diabetes. If that’s true then why didn’t my doctor tell me this, why did she say it was normal? Is it? I’m totally freaking out right now because according to her i don’t have diabetes yet i still feel all of these symptoms. Is it possible that it’s all in my head? I mean i am constantly thinking about diabetes, so maybe my mind is convinced i have it and is creating these symptoms to cope with it. Also could it be because i just moved to Florida from NY. and i’m just adjusting?

ANSWER:
Yes, you are being paranoid. Everyones blood sugar goes up and down, and what is normal for one person is not normal for another person. Charts are made to give us a number to compare things by, it does not mean that if your readings are different than the chart, that you have diabetes. It also depends on when you do your readings. A non diabetic should have reading somewhere in the neighborhood of 70 to 99 fasting and 70 to 140 two hours after a meal.. If your doctor would have thought there was reason to tell you that you are a diabetic, she would have. The symptoms you have could be from a lot of things, especially your tingling sensations…they were most likely caused because your feet were crossed…that is normal. I think you are fine and are obsessing with certain symptoms. You said your appetite has increased, that may be why you have been drinking more. Put away the charts.. Let it go and go have fun.

QUESTION:
Why are there so many different “normal” blood levels for a non-diabetic? Its getting very confusing..?
The American Diabetes Assoc. and other reputable medical resources (including the info on the chart for the meter strips) say a non-diabetic’s normal fasting (8-12 hrs) blood sugar level should be below 100. Anything above that is considered “pre” or “diabetic” depending on what your level is. The most confusing part is the BG level for approx 2 hours after a meal. I keep reading you should be under 120, 2 hours after a meal. Meanwhile, Doctors and the ADA say anything under 140 is normal, to me that seems like a big diff. I have been testing my after lunch and dinner BG levels , I have been averaging between 94 and 129 after 2 hrs..according to some this is perfectly normal (140), while others are saying I should not be going over 120…Does this mean I am at High Risk for diabetes? Are people saying my BG level should always be below 120?.. My morning Fasting has been between 81-98 for 8 consecutive days now, what does this mean???..please help.. Thanks…

ANSWER:
Forget what the ADA says. They are in the pockets of drug companies.

Here is the scoop( we want to catch this terrible disease in it’s earliest monent, Don’t we???)

Normal Fasting Blood Sugar
A normal fasting blood sugar (which is also the blood sugar a normal person will see right before a meal) is:

83 mg/dl (4.6 mmol/L) or less.

Many normal people have fasting blood sugars in the mid and high 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/L) range.

Though most doctors will tell you any fasting blood sugar under 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) is “normal”, there are several studies that suggest that testing with a fasting blood sugar in the mid 90 mg/dl (5 mmol/L) range often predicts diabetes that is diagnosed a decade later.
Post-Meal Blood Sugar (Postprandial)
Independent of what they eat, the blood sugar of a truly normal person is:

Under 120 mg/dl (6.6 mmol/L) one or two hours after a meal.

Most normal people are under 100 mg/dl (5.5 mmol/L) two hours after eating.
A1c
A truly normal A1c is between 4.6% and 5.4%

A1cs are not as good a measure of actual blood sugar control in individuals as they are for groups. An A1c of 5.1% maps to an average blood sugar of 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L) or less when group statistics are analyzed, but normal variations in how our red blood cells work make the A1cs of truly normal individuals fall into a wider range.

Some people’s A1cs are always a bit higher than their measured blood sugars would predict. Some are always lower. NOTE: If you are anemic your A1c will read much lower than your actual blood sugars and the resulting A1c is not a useful gauge of your actual blood sugar control.

Heart attack risk rises in a straight line fashion as A1c rises from 4.6%. Take care Buff

You are probably on the verge. So start a low glycemic index diet and exercise,(http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm)

Exercise is Daily 30 t0 60 min. a day. By the way this is a great way for the whole family to eat, No calorie counting.

QUESTION:
Can anyone out there answer a question about Iron infusion and diabetes – side effects?
The background: I have been fighting anemia for almost one year, normal level is 13 and I dropped to 4 . With meds and diet I finally brought it up to 10, but in Dec. iron level started to drop again even with the same meds and diet adjustment, under doctors guidance the whole time. We decided to do an iron infusion to get my blood iron up. Today was the first of two treatments, benadryl and a steroid were given prior to the infusion and I know that with steroids blood sugar will spike so have been monitoring ever two hours .Well I had a supper of one piece of toast,two scrambled eggs and spinach. Hot tea with lemon to drink. Before I ate, my sugar was 146 so I took one unit correction dose plus two for carb intake, two hours afterwards my sugar was 138. Two hours later I started to bloat way up, get very sick to my stomach and my blood pressure went to 178/97. When I tested my sugar it was at 532. In 18 years of diabetes i have only ever had two other instances of sugar levels over 500. I called the hospital to ask if this was a normal reaction and they were not allowed to answer questions over the phone. I live in a remote area where 911 does not respond and the soonest I can go to hospital in is two hours from now.
My questions are: Are these common reactions for iron infusion with steroid for diabetics or am I over reacting to be so worried? Should I just keep testing sugar levels and taking correction dose every two hours? I have taken 12 units so far from my correction chart – should I keep taking more? I have never had the two things at once and was wondering if if anyone else has?

Thank you for your time.
I cook primarily with cast iron, and as organic as possible. My tea is usually caffeine-free, but those are wonderful suggestions!
The reason for benadryl was to combat allergic reaction from the infusion, But you are right has susar suryp that I total forgot about in my concern about the steroid. That indeed is an interesting web site and I will ask my doctor about any new info he has learned of this. Unfortunately I am type 1 and use a different type of insulin but this is worth looking into, Thank you

ANSWER:
i have diabetes and what i can tell you is any irritation can cause blood sugar levels to rise. being calm is the best thing to do no matter what. drink lots of water. i don’t know any thing about iron infusion being a factor in this because i don’t know much about that sigh sorry. call a doctor man. hospitals suck i know, but damn get on insulin and if your on it already take more, watch it for a while ( till becomes low) than enjoy your life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUESTION:
Updated Charts/Books on Juvenile(Type 1) Diabetes?
Does anyone know of any good websites or books on Type 1 Diabetes? A lot has changed in the past 10 years and I was looking for updated information. Also, trying to find charts or log books to keep up with food and blood sugar levels. Thanks for any help. It will be much appreciated,

ANSWER:
These are some of the websites I use:

http://www.dlife.com/

http://diabetes.webmd.com/default.htm

http://mendosa.com/index.html

http://www.jdrf.org/

http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/

http://ndep.nih.gov/

http://www.joslin.org/index.asp

QUESTION:
Could this turn into gestational diabetes?
I asked this question yesterday but only got couple answers…
I’m 23 weeks pregnant. At my last month’s check up my sugar level in urine was elevated. Now, it is off the chart. I’ve also been experiencing hypoglycemic symptoms for the past few weeks.
I’m going for a glucose tolerance test (and other tests) next week, but I was wondering, what experience other women had with this. If you had a very high sugar level in your urine what was your glucose test result.
Also, has anyone had protein found in their urine, and what did it turn out to be?
Thanks

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Do you think I have gestational Diabetes?
Went and had my GD test today, A 2 hour one, Firstly they took blood than I drank the sweet drink an hour later they took more blood than an hour after that they took more blood. Before I drank the sweet drink the lady tested the blood and compared it to some sort of colour chart and she said my sugar levels were quite high (9 exactly). I also fasted for this test, 10 hrs prior (except for water did drink that). Do you think this means I have GD or could I have a high sugar level reading without having GD?

Go get my results from the doctor next week, just curious and want to know what others think and may have experienced. Really hope I don’t have it, have had MASSIVE cravings for any thing sweet, it’s torture I just want to eat a million mars bars, LOL.

Thanks in advance ladies.

ANSWER:
Try not to worry till u get the results back I’m not sure how they tested your blood, but the usual prick test normal is 4-7 so if you got a 9 you would be slightly high but not In a coma!!!
My mother had GD think hers were around 20 when they tested her which is high. She has now got type 2 diabetes the finger prick test is what she uses every day. Usually the hospital will take blood from your arm so they can do a full blood count and check your haemoglobin levels at the same time. Hope u r ok let us know how u get on x
By the way my GTT results were 4.7 before and 4.7 afterwards to give u an idea x

QUESTION:
Do you think I have gestational diabetes?
Went and had my GD test yesterday, A 2 hour one, Firstly they took blood than I drank the sweet drink an hour later they took more blood than an hour after that they took more blood. Before I drank the sweet drink the lady tested the blood and compared it to some sort of colour chart and she said my sugar levels were quite high (9 exactly). I also fasted for this test, 10 hrs prior (except for water did drink that). Do you think this means I have GD or could I have a high sugar level reading without having GD?

Go get my results from the doctor next week, just curious and want to know what others think and may have experienced. Really hope I don’t have it, have had MASSIVE cravings for any thing sweet, it’s torture I just want to eat a million mars bars, LOL.

Thanks in advance ladies.

ANSWER:
Having been a type 1 diabetic for 25 years and now 34 weeks pregnant, I can tell you that 9.0 is really quite high especially after fasting and before having the sweet drink. Your level should be at 5.3 for a non diabetic person. I would say that they probably will diagnose you with GD however will probably try to control it with diet first and then if that doesn’t work, they will put you in the care of an endocrinologist and put you on insulin injections until the baby is born. The needles are very small and its really not that bad. PLEASE stay away from eating excess sugar as this will make your baby grow larger than it should be. Try eating things that taste sweet but are not, including fruit, yogurt etc. Good luck.

QUESTION:
Children with diabetes?
My daughter is being tested for diabetes, I have looked up symptoms one they say is abdominal pain but it does not state where or what type. She often complains of her sides hurting but it is more by her ribs the bottom of the ribs on both sides. I am also having a hard time find a range chart, my doctor gave me a scale of 60-105 but at what point do you worry. Her sugar levels showed high from lab the walk in did. She had a bladder infection and her urine showed clear but she was still going very often. She has had bladder problems for a long time and drinks a ton of water, but she always has. She has been tested in the past and it was fine, this is the first time it has showed high. We could not get in to our regular doctor until the 30th in the mean time we are to check her levels 1st thing in the morning and 2 hours after breakfast. We have a kit from when they tested my oldest for hypoglocemia. Does anyone know where I can find the scale for kids and the sugar levels.
Her bladder issues we see a Pediatric Urologist for. She does drink close to a gallon of water a day, but she has always been like this. She is 7.
What I am asking is if anyone knows whre the abdominal pain is at your abdomen covers a lot of area. And also a chart with the levels for children, what is too high etc.
What I am asking is if anyone knows whre the abdominal pain is at your abdomen covers a lot of area. And also a chart with the levels for children, what is too high etc.
thank you red head that is about the same area my daughter complains of the pain, most of the time it is both sides but sometimes it is one or the other. Best wishes to you and your daughter.
thanks sevenofus – I may not have worded it correctly in my searches, it says your dr will most likely pick the range, but I did find tips on how to poke etc.

ANSWER:
My 8 year old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in June 2007. From her descriptions, the pain she experienced was usually in the upper tummy area, below the ribs but above the belly button. It sometimes varied in terms of whether it was on the right or left. Children have a much wider range in terms of what is considered a “normal” blood glucose reading. The target that we were given was between 80 and 180. You will undoubtedly find that sometimes, it will be lower as well as higher, esp. after a snack with carbs or sugar or a meal. Children are so much more active so their range is much wider than it is for adults, in terms of what is considered a healthy blood glucose reading.
I knew that something was wrong b/c my normally very active daughter started needing one or two naps a day. She was very tired and sluggish at times and would wet the bed at night profusely, even overflowing her nighttime big kid pullup. Her eyes started to appear “weak” and she started losing weight. I know that this is all a lot to handle but you’re doing the right thing. Finding out all that you can will help ease your mind a great deal.

QUESTION:
What can I feed my diabetic cat?
My 9yr. old male cat was recently diagnosed w/ feline diabetes. The vet said his sugar levels were off the chart. I’m wanting to try and get him on track with diet. My vet prescribed a special diabetic dry food, but all my research says I shouldn’t be giving dry food at all. I believe the research, and am planning on substituting 1 meal a day for wet food. Does anyone have any good recipes or store bought foods that they would recommend? And what about treats? I want to give him treats for being a good boy, esp. now that he is having to go through so many stressful changes and procedures.

I appreciate any help with this issue. I’m very upset as you can imagine.

ANSWER:
Be VERY careful with those foods the vets talk you into. Keep in mind that MANY vets are not properly informed on feline nutrition, even though they are indeed informed on medical care… Please read the information on this site, which will open up your eyes about feline food: http://www.catinfo.org/

You are right about dry food. Your cat should probably be on a high quality wet cat food, such as wellness or Innova Evo. That link above will help teach you about the nutrition labels and show you what to look for in quality foods.

I was told that my cat was “getting” diabetes and also had IBS at the same time. He’s been healthy since I put him on wet cat food months ago.

Also, before you start on any medication, be sure to consult another vet. A second opinion is always good in a case like this.

QUESTION:
How should i take creatine with my diabetes (type 1)?
I have a question about taking creatine. Im a 16 year old type 1 diabetic and i previously ordered a CellTech Hardcore creatine, which has about 75g of sugar, if im correct. I was just wondering if anyone can correct me on how to take this product so that it doesnt affect my diabetes. If i take insulin (humulin) before i consume the creatine, would it help maintain my blood sugar level so that it would not go off the chart? i also read that insulin helps the creatine to go in the muscles so is taking insulin a must before consuming creatine?

Thanks in advance! =)

ANSWER:
Personally i think at 16 you are to ypoung to be using this? What is it you hope to gain through its use? One of the safety issues of it is renal problems which as a diabetic you already have an increased risk of. If you are seriously considering using creatine I would ask you to talk to your doctor before you take it as I do not know whether or not it has any effect on your medication. It is also more effective when used with high GI carbohydrates which will spike your blood glucose levels and are best avoided.
See article below

QUESTION:
Can’t keep 3 hour glucose test drink down. What to do?
I barely failed the 1 hour glucose test at 20 weeks and took the 3 hour glucose tolerance test and passed it. It was a really bad experience for me, as I was so sick to my stomach the whole time and nearly threw up several times. My doctor wants me to take it again now at 28 weeks (I had a small amount of glucose in my urine after I drank juice before my appointment). I have tried twice and ended up throwing up the drink before the first hour ended. I have been testing and charting my blood sugar levels and they are fine, but my doctor insists I must do the test. How many times should I try when the drink obviously does not agree with me? Is there some reason I must have an official diagnosis of gestational diabetes, or is strict home-monitoring enough to make sure my baby and I are healthy? I have asked my doctor this, but of course she says the test is the only choice.

ANSWER:
Are you drinking the same flavor or different ones? Because there are different flavors. I had to do a 3 hour test after I failed the 1 hour. I had different drinks both times. Did you drink it cold? That could help.

I assume you have told her that you keep throwing the stuff up–what is her response to that? Have you really sat down and talked to her about it? Because if you have, she seems to be a bit insensitive to your plight.

Gestational diabetes is a very serious illnes. You have to be on a very strict diet if you do indeed have it, becuase it can affect the baby. That’s why they are so adamant about it. The website below lists all kinds of things that can affect the baby.

I was trying to find anythign on the internet that could be an alternative to the oral glucose tolerance test. I came up with this:

Glycosylated haemoglobin test

Check out this website: http://www.doctorndtv.com/topics/detailtopics.asp?id=72

I don’t know if it is something you can do, but you can ask your doctor about it. You don’t have to drink anything. It’s worth a shot.

Good luck to you!

QUESTION:
Is there anything I can do to help my dad? (He’s diabetic.)?
My dad is diabetic, as I stated in the title. He’s REALLY stressing out lately. On top of the fact that the economy is absolutely horrible, he’s having trouble keeping his sugar levels down, I think. He’s REALLY worried about his job. He’s been working as a delivery driver for a company, for over 30 years now. He has no high school diploma, so I’m worried for him.

He has a CDL liscense, I think that’s what its called, so he can legally drive the big trucks. Well, he has to get tested every month and if his sugar levels is off the chart, well… you can imagine, he’ll lose his job if he doesn’t get it under control. I’m not sure what medicines he is on, but nothing seems to be working much.

Past couple of months have been horrible for him. He ended up in the hospital, his throat nearly swollen all the way shut. Ever since then, his diabetes hasn’t been under control very well.

Before the trip to the hospital, he used to be a little lazy with keeping everything in check. Now he’s doing a lot better about things.

My mom doesn’t help him at all. She doesn’t cook, she’s mentally unstable pretty much… what can I do to help him? Are there any fruits or anything at all I could fix for him that might keep his sugar levels in check before the 8th? Any advice would be great… I’m super worried.

I’m really broke right now, but if anyone has any advice for me… or him, for that matter, that would be great.
Thanks, Josh! That was extremely helpful. I’m not familiar with diabetes, so I’ll have to tell him that and see if it works. I hope it does. (Also hope he’s willing to run or jog a bit, he can be stubborn.)

ANSWER:
It is great that you want to help your Dad. Diabetes is about controlling your sugars. The best way to do that is to eat a LOW carb diet and exercise. I noticed that you said your mom doesn’t cook. Does that mean that your dad is eating unhealthy meals? That could be half your problem. If you want to help your dad here are some suggestions that you might want to consider.
Go through the kitchen and get rid of snacks and prepackaged foods. These are usually high in unhealthy carbs.
Make sure that all drinks in the house are diet or sugar free, including tea and coffee. Replace table sugar with splenda or other artifical sweetner.
Get a kitchen scale and start measuring portions. That is a biggie as portions on some foods are just 1/2 cup.
Get him to replace any white foods, such as breads, rice or pasta with whole grain or brown.
If he is frying foods, then stop that. Bake, broil, steam, or grill foods.
If he is eating take out for lunches during work, then stop that and have him start taking his lunch instead.
And yes, exercise is very important to sugar control. So he needs to be doing some kind of exercise, even if it is only walking.
Fresh salads are great for him as long as he doesn’t overload it with dressings.
If he doesn’t already read food labels, then get him in the habit of that. He is looking for foods that are low in carbs and have dietary fiber.
Eat only lean meats cooked properly.
I know this seems like a lot, but it really isn’t. It is more of getting into the habit then learning. Once you get used to doing all this, it becomes second nature. Also if he is on any diabetes medications, make sure he is taking them as prescriped. If he isn’t on any, then talk to his doctor. There are oral medications that help lower/control diabetes, and if his sugar is that high for a extended period of time, they may need to put him on insulin until he gets control of his diet. Also getting him to see a nutritionist might help. Best of luck to you.

QUESTION:
I have to be re-tested for Gestational diabetes, but I tend to be more hypoglycemic when I’m not pregnant.?
I have to go back to the lab for the 3 hr glucose test to see if my higher level of blood sugar is because to gestational diabetes. I know that not everyone who get retested has it, but I’m wondering if its linked to my history of what I would assume (never diagnosed) is hypoglycemia: faintness, headache, tiredness, dizziness, shaking, and irritability when having not eaten or when I eat too much sugar or simple carbohydrates. I’ve always been considered underweight, or just low on the BMI chart. This is my fourth pregnancy and the other three times I was fine. This time the only difference is they told me not to fast before the test, something I had done the three previous times. Do you think there could be a link to that? Has anyone with these symptoms when they’re not pregnant ever tested high on their glucose test? Or can anyone answer if there is a link between these symptoms and how I reacted during the test.

ANSWER:
Hypoglycemic is low blood glucose. You won’t have that if you’ve had too much sugar or simple carbs.
Also, when I’m hyperglycemic (too high blood glucose) I’ll have the symptoms you describe. So, I imagine you have had a high blood glucose reading and that’s why they want to test you under ‘normal’ conditions to see how you’re reacting to higher glucose levels.

Being male, I’ve not experienced pregnancy, but I have eperienced high and low blood glucose levels. As long as your doctor is on top of it, you should be fine.

QUESTION:
Anyone know……?
I have gestational diabetes and my sugar level has been high,so my dr wants me to fax her in what its been. Does anyone know if there is any time of chart or anything online you can print so I can have these writen out on an actual chart other than just writing them on paper..? Any sites with the charts I can print out or anything?

ANSWER:
The company that manufactured your meter normally has software. I would try their site. When I went to the specialist for my GD they always downloaded my results onto the computer.

Good luck

QUESTION:
Why is my dog having severe nose bleeds??!!?
Ok recently, our 11 year old (female) Australian blue-heeler fell while trying to run some cattle back into their fence. Well a big knot swelled up on her back left leg, and she started acting very sickly, and one day she wouldn’t even eat at all! Well of course we cared her to the vet, and come to find out her sugar levels were off the charts. Our veterinarian diagnosed her with diabetes, and kept her for about a week, for treatment and observation. Also, come to find out, our vet found a mark on her front right leg, where she had been bitten by a spider!! So, our vet treated her for everything and we were finally able to bring her home yesterday because her insulin (sugar) levels had dropped back down to 166…which is good! Now we have to giver her insulin shots twice a day, and can only feed her a specific type of diabetic dog food. Anyway, yesterday she acted the best I’ve seen in a long while, however she was still a little tired (wouldn’t you be) and everything was fine. Her leg is still a little sore from where she fell, but it’s getting better, and the swellings going down now.

[Here's the confusing part!!!]

When I got home from school today, I went to see my mom at her office at the warehouse (were farmers) and our dog, Lady, was up there with her. My mom told me that Lady’s nose had bleed three times since 11:00 am, and the first time it happened my dad cared her back to our vet. They told us that she either broke a blood vessel in her nose, which is why it’s bleeding, or she could have gotten into rat poison. The weird thing is though, my mom’s been with her ALL day and she hasn’t seen Lady do anything to have hurt her nose and break a blood vessel, and there’s definitely no where around here for her to have gotten into rat poison. So a second ago, Lady’s nose started bleeding again (4th time today!) and my mom called our vet, and she told us the same thing as before, and then said that it could also be that Lady has a blood clot somewhere, and it’s trying to bleed itself out, and thus the reason why only the right side of her nose is bleeding. Our vet also said that if her nose was bleeding because of a clot in her somewhere, there was nothing we could do about it!

We’ve had this dog since I was about 7 years old, and she’s been like a second mother to me, my sister, and my brother. She’s very protective over all of us, and is one of the best dogs anyone could ever ask for. (Sorry I’m getting off topic!)

I would just really like to know if anyone has ever heard of a dog’s nose bleeding like this? Is it a common thing among Australian Blue Heelers? Has this ever happened to anyone else’s dog? Any information that someone has, would be VERY much appreciated.

I can’t imagine Lady not being here, she’s just as much a member of our family as I am, and I love her just the same! Anyone who reads this, PLEASE pray for our dog Lady, I’m just not ready for her to leave us yet!

Thanks to anyone who took the time to read and answer this, I just hope Lady’s going to be ok!
Callie♥

ANSWER:
I agree that it could be a tumor in the nasal canal or sinuses or even a bad sinus infection. The vet should do a thorough exam and x-rays of her head. Also,do your neighbors put out rodent poison? If the dog came across a mouse or rat that had been poisoned and ate it,then she would have ingested the poison.If that’s the case,your vet should have tested her blood for it and she should be on vitamin K.

I have old dogs,too,and I have lost many old dogs over the years.I know how you feel.I hope that Lady recovers.

QUESTION:
I have no idea what is wrong with me?
I have not been feeling well for the past four months. I have menstruation problems, stomach problems, and I am always tired. I have been diagnosed with IBS, but nothing seems to help that. I recently have been tested for many different problems including diabetes, hyperthyroidism, estrogen levels, testosterone levels, progesterone levels, UTI, kidney problems, blood count…etc. The problem with these tests are that I go to military doctors. They don’t give the results back unless something is way off the charts. I have tested my blood sugar and it has been between 190-250 every time ( the last time I did fasting sugar level and it was 234)…could I possibly be diabetic, or do these symptoms sound like something different.
Any information would be helpful.

ANSWER:
Diabetic and gluten intolerant. Do the research.

If you would like to try a product that is inexpensive check out chia seeds that dr oz was talking about. Exercise and eat a gluten free diet for 3 months and see if you feel better. No diet soad or regular and no energy drinks. Your so right about your problem being diabetes! Congratualtions for being smarter than the DR.

QUESTION:
Mom’s INR level too high, off the chart (long question, sorry)?
My mom is 52, she has DVT since about 2000 after having surgery. She has had several blood clots that she’s been hospitalized for, with the last one being less than 2 weeks ago. Her INR when she was in the ER was .09 and they want it between 2-3. (I thought she may have forgotten to take her cumadin) After 3 days in the hospital taking cumadin and Lovenox injections to “thin” her blood, her INR was 2.2 when she was discharged. She took her injections at home, and the cumadin as directed. Last Friday her INR was 2.5, Monday it had jumped to 7.6 so her Dr told her to stop taking the blood thinners. Wednsday she was checked again and it was so high that it was off the chart. She was told to continue to be cautious and not strain at all or cut herself. Thursday, INR was still off the chart. Today they told her it was 7.8, so it was getting better. She went to the ER tonight because she was not feeling right, extremely tired, and slurring her words. They told her that once again, her INR is off the chart! They sent her home after checking to make sure she had no bleeding on the brain and doing some other tests.
I know that I have no training, I’m just me, and what do I know? But it’s really concerning me that her INR is still extremely high after not taking any blood thinners for 5 days now. More than anything, I think it bothers me that the Drs and nurses dont seem to be concerned at all. She sees her regular Dr again on Tuesday, but I’m just worried.
My mom also has type 2 diabetes, is on pills and insulin injections and her diabetes is still not well controlled. I dont know if this may have anything to do with her INR, but on Wed she woke up feeling strange and thought it was her blood sugar dropping again. She said that she couldn’t feel her feet and couldn’t walk right, that she was on her toes because she felt like she was falling forward while walking. She checked her glucose and it was 57, it’s been much lower. She said that it didn’t feel anything like when her glucose is too low. She got a bowl of cereal and couldn’t eat it, it all ended up on the floor and on her face because she couldn’t get the spoon to her mouth. She finally got back to her bed and fell back to sleep until 1 in the afternoon, which she NEVER does because she always needs sleeping pills to go to sleep. I thought maybe she had a stroke, she has been very forgetful and confused ever since. But of course, the ER dr said she was fine, and that she was having drug induced mental confusion because she is on several antidepressants and mood stabilizers for Bipolar. Sorry, this was so long, I’m just running out of things to Google to try and figure out what could be wrong lol.
Thank you. I do agree that she needs a new Dr, I dont think he is taking care of her at all and it really makes me mad. But, she really likes him and doesn’t want to get used to a new one. Also, there aren’t many taking new patients around here. Our local hospital is a joke, they see mostly drug addicts and people going in because they have a tummy ache. So they are used to just giving you Tylenol and sending you home. I think I may take her to the better hospital north of here tomorrow when my husband will be home to watch our kids.

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
My boyfriend is Type 1 diabetic, and his sugars are out of control?
Its rare that he will even test his sugars. I looked at his gluccmoter last night, and his levels seem to be an average of 400+. This is not good, at all I know. What can I do to help him keep his levels “normal” He wont go to the Dr’s. to get his A1C levels checked. Im at a loss and scared for him. This past March, he was admitted into ICU because his sugars were off the chart, way above 1000. Yeah, 1000. It wouldn’t even register on the gluccmoter, and he was in there for 3 days. Since he had gotten out, he has yet to go to the Dr. I am also afraid that this is leading to other health problems for him.

:[
What should I do? I know riding him about this will make him not want to go it, but I am at the point to where I am about to beat him over the head so that he doesn’t end up in ICU, let alone the hospital again.

Since I know he will eat anything, and anything that I cook, should I just go get an ADA cook book and have him on a strict diet? He wont go to a diabetes educator, or anything. I feel so bad for him, but yet, if he doesn’t shape up, hell die.

ANSWER:
His blood sugars are high enough that dieting alone is not going to work. He is going to have to go to the doctor and get on medication because he is slowly killing himself. These high blood sugars are destroying his kidneys, heart, nerves, every organ in his body and he won’t live long.
Go to www.diabetes.com, it is the website for the American Diabetes Association and see what information you can get from them. It won’t hurt for you to read up on diabetes and try to prepare diabetic friendly meals for him, but I have a feeling he is going to be very uncooperative about trying to control his diet. Does he not realize that these blood sugars put him at high risk for a stroke or heart attack.
Unfortunately,you can’t make a person seek medical treatment, but you can certainly nag him if he doesn’t and I would. I’m not sure I wouldn’t tell him you weren’t going to stay around and watch him die.

QUESTION:
Diabetics: what would you do if your doctor…?
I am a low-income Type 2 diabetic. I receive health care through a community clinic, so I am limited in my options.

I have been seeing my new doctor since December last year. After getting my lab work back, he was relieved to see that my kidneys were fine. He asked how long I had been diabetic and then responded, “Oh, you haven’t been diabetic long enough to have kidney disease.” Like the simple fact that I am diabetic means that I’ll get diabetic complications. My A1c has been in the 5% range for YEARS.

The last time I was there, he was so impressed with my A1c and blood sugar log that he told me that he thought I was misdiagnosed as diabetic. I was taken aback. When I was diagnosed, my A1c and random blood sugar were off the charts. There’s NO doubt that I am diabetic. I insisted that I am, told him why I thought so, and that I just work really hard to control my blood sugar, but he said, “I still think you may not be diabetic.”

Right now I’m feeling like he’s a raging incompetent about diabetes. I know that beggars can’t be choosers and I should just be glad I have health care, but I’m sort of disgusted and wondering if I should request to switch doctors at the clinic or maybe go elsewhere. The only reason I’m reluctant is because I don’t want word of this getting back to him if I can’t switch and I don’t need any special treatment or an endo because I have good control. He’s “sufficient.” I was offended that he had so little faith in me, condemning me to kidney disease, and then I was another level of horrified when he said I wasn’t diabetic.

What should I do?

ANSWER:
First of all, congrats on your exemplary glycemic control.

I don’t have any statistics at hand but from talking to my GP, I get the impression that most diabetics do not have such good blood sugars.

For instance, my GP told me I am the only diabetic patient with the clinic who has a 5% A1C.

I think some doctors even believe that diabetics can never have normal blood sugars. Also in the past, diabetics invariably deteriorated because people knew a lot less about blood sugar management. But things have changed so much now, and as you yourself know, diabetics have so many tools to control their disease and not let it control them.

We also know that the higher the A1C, the greater the risk of complications. Sadly, the risk never goes down to zero, no matter how good the A1C.

Finally I’d like to suggest that if that doctor spends a lot of time working in low-income areas, it is likely he sees lots of poorly controlled diabetics who, for various reasons, end up eating a high carb diet. He probably sees them deteriorate quickly and thinks that everybody’s going to end up like that.

QUESTION:
Could this turn into gestational diabetes?
I’m 23 weeks pregnant today. At my last month’s check up my sugar level in urine was elevated. Today, it was off the chart. I’ve also been experiencing hypoglycemic symptoms for the past few weeks. However, when I tested my blood sugar at home, it was 111.
I’m going for a glucose tolerance test next week, but I was wondering, if there somebody who had high sugar level in urine and passed the test.

ANSWER:
urine sugar level is an old school method of diagnosing diabetes.

Even severely diabetic patients will read normal once in a while, so a SINGLE “finger stick” test is not a good diagnosis.

the Glucose Tolerance Test is definitive. It does not test blood sugar levels, but instead tests how your body responds to a sudden “slug”: of sugar. this is a much more real-world situation.

Also, you need to ASK you doctor to do an A1C test. This will provide him with valuable information about how severe your diabetes is (or is not….). The A1C test is a simple blood test.

The American Diabetes Association recommend that ALL adults have the A1C test performed once a year. In this manner many “hidden” cases of diabetes are detected before the patient gets sick, and thus the disease can be controlled more easily through diet and exercise without the need for medications.

IF you do have gestational diabetes, you chances of becoming a Type 2 Diabetic later in life are increased. YOU need to have the A1C test performed every year to insure that you stay fit and healthy.

We all have some sugar in the before her bloodstream. The standard amount of sugar within the bloodstream ranges from about 70 to about 120 in public places who don’t put on diabetes. Bloodstream sugar rises past eating, but profits to normalcy range in one or two hrs.
An excellent bloodstream sugar range for many public with Glendale diabetes comes from on 70 to 120. This really is before meals — like by breakfast — or 4 to 5 hrs after your last food. Your bloodstream sugar ought to be Removed than 200 about two hrs after your last meal. But, these goals vary with respect to the person. To have an old self, it may be easier to have upper bloodstream sugar and never worry a lot about complication than risk has low bloodstream sugar. You will need to exercise your personal goal together with your vigor care team.
Commit to memory, because you feel awesome does not mean you are able to skip hard your bloodstream sugar. You are able to feel awesome and have tall bloodstream sugar.Bloodstream SUGAR difficult general idea
For those who have diabetes, you’ve got a key role in your healthcare, and difficult your bloodstream glucose also known as bloodstream sugar is really a break that you should take run of the health.
Although diabetes is really a never ending condition, it may usually be illicit with change in lifestyle and medication. The primary goal of dealing would be to keep bloodstream sugar levels within the typical or near-normal range. Checking your bloodstream sugar is among the easiest way to understand how well your Glendale diabetes cure plan’s working. Constant glucose monitors also have gain popularity, specifically for group who make use of an blood insulin pump.
A health care provider will sometimes order a laboratory bloodstream test to find out your bloodstream sugar levels and hemoglobin A1c. This test give a general a feeling of how bloodstream sugar levels are controlled because it signifies your average bloodstream honey level of history 2 to 3 several weeks table. However, fine-tuning of bloodstream sugar level and cure also mandates that you screen your personal bloodstream sugar levels on day-to-day root.What Causes diabetes
Inadequate development of blood insulin either absolutely or regards to your body’s needs, manufacture of problematic blood insulin that is special, or even the lack of ability of cells to make use of blood insulin correctly or ably results in hyperglycemia and diabetes. This latter condition affects mostly cells of muscle and body fat tissue, to cause a clause referred to as “blood insulin resistance.” This is actually the primary difficulty in Seattle diabetes type 2. The complete insufficient blood insulin, usually secondary to some destructive process modify the blood insulin creating beta cells within the pancreas, may be the primary turmoil in your body. In diabetes type 2, there and it is a stable decline of beta cells that increases the route of elevated bloodstream sugars.
For more information and details you can log on to: www.glendalediabetes.com

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
Does my dad have diabetes, his blood sugar level is over 400?
My Dad went to the clinic yesterday so they could check his blood and today they called us with the results and his blood sugar lever is at 434. They said they want to speak to him immediately. Do you think he has diabetes? I dont want my Dad to die!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!

ANSWER:
Yes, he most likely has diabetes. But that doesn’t mean he will die. People can live long, almost normal lives with diabetes thanks to medical advances.

QUESTION:
Grandma always has a Type I insulin dependant child’s blood sugar levels get too high. What should we do?
I am a step parent to an ADHD, learning disabled child with diabetes. I work VERY hard to keep blood sugars under control for weight purposes and mental health purposes (to control his impulsiveness in talking). Grandma sends sugar level over 200 most times (even over 400). We have tried to talk to her about this. She is diabetic too and can’t say no to the child because of her own issues. The child manipulates til he gets his way knowing grandma can’t say no or listen to him keep begging. Needless to say when he comes home he is always hungry because his body is adjusting to l. She doesn’t have to explain to doctors why it’s out of control. We do, we are responsible. Being diabetic herself we were hoping she would learn better habits cuz she does not keep herself regulated. No matter how many times we tell her that levels above 150 aren’t good, she does not want to deprive him and say no. What do we do? I need the weekend breaks. He is not an easy child to take care of.

ANSWER:
Unfortunately, you already know what you will most likely have to do- which is arrange for alternate child care. You might make some arrangements and let grandma know that if the situation doesn’t rapidly improve then she will not be watching the grandchild anymore. Then of course, you will have to be prepared to follow through with that. Sometimes you do have to put things bluntly. I’d explain to her that she has had a life and can therefore chose the complications that uncontrolled diabetes brings. She doesn’t have the right to endanger the grandchild by indulging him in the treats that she knows are not good for him. And that is what she is doing, endangering him. If this were drugs instead of sugar, would you be hesistating? This is in much the same line. Chances are not good she is going to change her habits, nor become more responsible though. And if she will not do it for herself, she’s not any more likely to do it for him either. What an adult chooses to risk is one thing, what they choose to risk with a child is a whole other subject. So, you must choose to protect the child from himself and grandma if it comes to that. It is ultimately your responsibility, actually it is the parent’s responsibility- but I assume you are taking on the role of parent here. And sometimes as parents, we are faced with making the tough choices out of love. Perhaps when she realizes her behavior is limiting her time with the grandchild, she may change her ways. I wouldn’t count on it, but it is still possible. Sometimes we need the boot in the rear to get our heads on straight.

QUESTION:
How can you quickly lower your blood sugar?
-If you have type 2 diabetes
-Your sugar is ranging in the 350-400
-Any foods that can be eaten and drop sugar levels within a safe range

ANSWER:
If you suffer from high levels of blood sugar, you may be more likely to develop serious health conditions, such as infections, blood clotting, and the inability of cuts and wounds to heal. High sugar levels in the blood can also lead to conditions such as diabetes. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to lower blood sugar levels.

An easy way to lower blood sugar levels is to stay fit and healthy. Regular exercise not only helps lower blood sugar levels, but also helps fight infections. Staying active and taking regular exercise can also help with blood pressure problems. Exercise also helps control the body’s weight and regulate cholesterol levels.

Thirty minutes of exercise a day, even walking, will help to lower blood sugar levels. Walking to the store instead of taking the car is all that may be necessary to provide you with some much needed exercise. Any extra exercise, including working out in a gym, should be discussed with a doctor first if you have irregular blood sugar levels.

The food that you eat also plays a part in helping to lower blood sugar levels. Low-glycemic foods that are digested more slowly by the body are a better option. High-glycemic foods enter the bloodstream easily and rapidly, causing the pancreas to work harder to produce insulin.

Low-glycemic foods that can help lower blood sugar levels include fruit such as pears, apples, and oranges. Oatmeal, peanuts, beans, peas, and granola are all low-glycemic foods. High-glycemic foods include potatoes, rice, and white bread. Research has shown that potatoes and white bread are converted extremely quickly by the body into glucose. In fact, they are converted more quickly than a candy bar would be.

Fast foods should always be avoided. The fat and sugar content in most fast foods is extremely high. Always look for a healthier option. Much food packaging now contains information on the food’s sugar content. Most restaurants and even fast food outlets now have healthy meal options, such as salads or fish dishes.

Drinking plenty of water is another way to lower blood sugar levels. Drinking at least eight glasses of water per day will also flush harmful toxins from the body, help with weight loss, and keep the skin healthy. Recent research has shown that certain herbs can help lower blood sugar levels as well. Taking ginseng after meals has been shown to regulate blood sugar levels. Other helpful herbs include yarrow, huckleberries, cinnamon powder, and licorice extract.

QUESTION:
High blood sugar, not eating either to control sugar levels (not anorexic)?
Be paitents, kinda longggg >>>>>>>>

I usually have controlled blood sugar around 100 to 120 mg/dl
but for the last week i’ve been having high blood sugar, my doctor told me to take more insulin, with insulin (novarapid) my sugar level comes back to normal

the problem is i can’t eat now because if i eat anything my sugar level rises to 400

last night i roasted salmon without oil and low in carb but it rose to 400
my insulin has rose to 20units daily to 35unit with no effect whatsoever
the doctors are telling me to increase my insulin but its has made no effect whether its 20 units or 50 units

ANSWER:
I am Diabetic type 1 for over 22 years, and let me tell you that there were times where the type of insulin wasnt working anymore for me, even if i raise the dose, it wasn’t working, i changed 4 times the type of insulin and now i am on a tottally differewnt insulin and schedule than when i first started, so maybe would be a good idea to ask your doctor if changing the insulin will help to control your blood sugar levels. It helped me, and anyone is different and that is why there sooooo many different types of insulin for each other.
Good Luck

QUESTION:
Can insulin injections be no longer effective for diabetes over time?
I have a relative who began taking insulin for diabetes just 4 months ago. He is also taking medication (Metformin). Before his blood sugar level was over 400 . The insulin brought it back down to around 100 -200. Now 4 months later, it’s back up to 400 .

Can someone become immune to insulin in just 4 months? Doctor has been increasing the dosage, but there’s no change.

ANSWER:
Your relative might not be diligent about following his diet, exercise, or medication regimen. It’s hard for some people to adjust to taking insulin on a regular basis.

That would be my non-professional guess.

QUESTION:
Too much fluctuation in blood sugar levels?
My Mom (age-54) had undergone kidney transplantation before 5 years, she has been doing good but since last year she has developed diabetes and the doc says this is because of the medicines side effects. However since last 4 mnths her sugar level fluctuates too much. Early mornings her levels are 45-50 and sometimes in the day her level would be as high as 400 to 450. This is really creating problem and the doc is also unable to detect the reason of this fluctuation.
If someone can please help, it would be really nice. We have been looking for a resolution since long time now but no use.

Thanks,

Mili

ANSWER:
many factors like decline in immunity stress and increase in cortisol level can contribute to this, talk to your doctor.

QUESTION:
I have lupus and diabetes. Can I get some tips for weight maintenance?
I’ve had lupus for 15 years and found out i am also diabetic last year. My doctor says I am the opposite of the textbook way to deal with insulin amounts and blood sugar levels. My “normal” level these days is form 300 to 400. I eat but still lose weight. Help!
I am 55 and watch carbs like they are poison. This is a new waycof research and I am grateful for the help.

ANSWER:
This will help to control your weight and diabetes.
These pranayam exercises will help control the diabetes and the side effects.Build up the timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume later.The benefits will be noticed in weeks as the sugar level is checked daily.Over the long tern the diabetes will be in full control and the medicine can be reduced in consultation with the doctor.
Anulom Vilom –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then – close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day(maximum 60 minutes in one day).
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day.(Max 60 min/day)
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Also everyday press the centre point of the palm of your hand 40 times with the thumb and press the tips of all fingers 40 times each.

QUESTION:
canine diabetes help?
last week my dog was diagnosed with diabetes she gets her regular shots and most of the other problems like urinating on the floor and drinking a lot of water has stopped but im concerned. the vet said she cant have any table scraps or human food nor certian treats. she is starting to try and take stuff out of my hand (she dont succeed). and she hid a chicken flavored rawhide chew and i found it and took it can she eat that or does it have sugar in it ? i just need to know wat to give her. she is a 60lb black lab and we are currently regulating the insulin to bring down her 400 sugar level so the vet said no sugar. wat are some some treats and chewys i could give her.

ANSWER:
I also had a dog who was diabetic. She was a huge part of our family. I commend your family taking on a responsibility of testing sugar levels and doing her shots and not taking the easy way out and putting him/her down.

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 10×15 inch jellyroll pan with parchment paper.
Place the liver into a food processor. Pulse until finely chopped. If you have room, add the flour and eggs, and process until smooth. Otherwise, transfer to a bowl, and stir in the flour and eggs using a wooden spoon. Spread evenly in the prepared pan.
Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the center is firm. Cool, and cut into squares using a pizza cutter. The treats will have a consistency similar to a sponge. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Believe it or not if you go on to Allrecipies.com there are some recipies for dog treats for diabetic dogs.

QUESTION:
dog diabetes?
last week my dog was diagnosed with diabetes she gets her regular shots and most of the other problems like urinating on the floor and drinking a lot of water has stopped but im concerned. the vet said she cant have any table scraps or human food nor certian treats. she is starting to try and take stuff out of my hand (she dont succeed). and she hid a chicken flavored rawhide chew and i found it and took it can she eat that or does it have sugar in it ? i just need to know wat to give her. she is a 60lb black lab and we are currently regulating the insulin to bring down her 400 sugar level so the vet said no sugar. wat are some some treats and chewys i could give her.

ANSWER:
this may be a good question to ask your vet.

Until you can get the sugar level down tho.. I wouldnt feed anything other than the reccommended dog food. ANY foods can cause the body’s sugar level to rise (sugars and starches just do it more quickly)

Once you do have things under control, you can probably look for treats that are made from nothing but meat. You could even invest in a dehydrator and make your own treats.. use some chicken, beef, etc and make “jerky” out of them.

QUESTION:
Insulin and diabetes?
I got a family member who self medicates with insulin. She needs it – how much is too much? She has blood sugar levels over 400 and struggles with depression. She seems to take 3 full shots a day. Is this normal or should I be concerned? She also has a heart condition and has had two strokes. How much insulin should she get? I dont know but I dont want to rock the boat if I am over-reacting.
All these answers are very very good. I can’t decide which is better because they are all good. I am putting it to a vote. Thanks though for helping me resolve this issue. =)

ANSWER:
Every ones insulin requirements are different. Insulin is measured in units, and I normally take about 50 units a day- However- I have a diabetic friend that takes over 200 units a day. There a a few things that will influence how much insulin is needed:
1.) Body weight. The more you weigh, the more insulin you may need
2.) Diet. the more carbs.sugar you eat, the more insulin you will need to cover your meals
3.) Insulin resistance. People can become resistant to insulin, and will require to take more.
Many of these reasons are different for everyone. The important thing is that your family member keeps her blood glucose under good control, and keeps her A1C below 7.0

QUESTION:
i would like to know how to reduce creatine levels for diabetic patients?
my mother had thyroid problem since 2003 and got diabetic recently n feb
she had sugar 400 and was aditted in ICU
WITH KIDNEY FAILURE,HEART PROBLEM
now she is fine without any medicine for diabetes
she is on raw food
her s.creatine is 1.9
does eating sprouts increase creatine level
i would like to know about the care to be taken to prevent any serios ailments related to kidney

ANSWER:
DO pranayam everyday to control creatine and diabetes.
Kapalbhati for 15 minutes and anulom vilom for 15 minutes. Find a Patanjali Yog teacher in your area to teach you.

QUESTION:
Type 1 Diabetic taking Insulin Please!!!!?
Okay This is my question I was just diagnosed Friday with Diabetes. My fasting sugar level was 400 that moring. And my A1c was 13.2. So I am on 2 different insulin’s. But my question is how many of you guys go to a specialist? Anyone stay with there regular Dr?

ANSWER:
Hi Miss Melissa.

Your question is a good one. It is important to go to a specialist when you have Diabetes. You should go to an Endocrinologist who is the specialist that treats Diabetes. Your primary doctor can give you a referral to one. Your Endocrinologist will know which types of insulin to give you and in what dosages. Since you were just diagnosed, you will most likely have some changes made in both insulins and/or dosages until the best types and levels are found to keep your levels under control.

When I was first diagnosed with Type 1 in 2001, my glucose level was around 1,000 and my A1c level was 22%. I almost ended up in the hospital. My doctor allowed me to stay home, but he called me every day until I was out of danger. He then gave me the name of an Endocrinologist, who I have been seeing since then to treat the Diabetes. She also had me see a Diabetes Educator. That is the person who will talk with you about how to manage things. How to use your meter, how often you should test, what changes you may need to make, etc. She will tell you about glucose pens and, down the road, about glucose pumps. You won’t need to see the Diabetes Educator often. I only needed to see her once.

I also take 2 insulins. At bedtime, I take Lantus (glargine) 75 units. It is a long-lasting insulin that lasts for 24 hours. It keeps my glucose levels around 90 at all times. Then, during the day, I tale NovoLog (asparte) 35 units before each meal. It is a fast-acting insulin that lasts 2 hours, enough to process my meal. I never adjust my bedtime insulin because that is my baseline insulin. However, I do adjust my NovoLog insulin before meals. For example, if I am going to eat an extra large meal or one with a lot of carbohydrates, I will raise the amount to about 40 to 45 units. Also, if I am only going to have a yogurt, I will lower it to about 25 to 20 units. The doctor didn’t allow me to make my own adjustments for about 2 years, after she saw I was keeping my glucose levels under control.

It is so very important to check your glucose levels frequently during the day. I test about 10 to 12 times a day. You need to test at dawn (when you first wake up); before each meal; 2 hours after each meal (that’s 2 hours after you start to eat); before bedtime. Also, if you exercise or do sports, you need to test before you start to exercise, in the middle of your activity, and when you finish exercising. Testing is the only way that you can know how your glucose levels are doing.

There are many websites that have a lot of info about Diabetes. Here are a few good ones;

http://www.dlife.com

http://www.revolutionhealth.com

http://www.americandiabetesassociation.com

http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com

I hope this has been helpful to you. I know that it is a shock to get a diagnosis, but you can live a normal life with it.

I wish you the best of luck.

QUESTION:
Diabetes Health juice question please answer.?
Do they make sugar free juice or something you can drink whenever you’re sick,
Sugar level is 400! So i need something that’s sugar free like juice cause i got a cold!
Thanks..

ANSWER:
It is normal to have high sugars when you are sick.
you need to increase your meds. If you don’t know how, call your doctor.We all should have a sick day protocol.
You don’t need juice. Try water or other no carb beverages.

QUESTION:
how long do spinal steroid shots affect blood sugar levels..mine are outrageously high every since I got this?
spinal steroid shot 11 days ago. Since then I have had readings too high for the meter to read seven days in a row and from a low of 325 to these 600 plus ones. Every day at least 500 plus last 11 days.

Before they were running 170 or so in the am and now 325-350. I had readings 18 months ago over 600 a few times and then only about 5 over 400 (under 450) in the last 18 months. After eating was about 250-375 but now 550 to 600 plus.

I am scared. Afraid to go to hospital as I do not want to be on drugs for this. It was 400 a few days before but maybe that was stress as under a lot but it is never this high.

On top of it the steroid shot did nothing for my back pain, leg pain or paresthesia.

Shouldn’t this be out of my system by now., do you think it will be permanent. They said temporary prior to having the shot but noone said it would raise it this high. I do have a family doctor appointment in 4 days but not wanting to take drugs,. Is there anything I can do to get this crap out of my system.

thanks I just took it and it was 520 as I type. (I have type 2 diabetes that was under control last 4 aics were normal via diet. I also have had a lot of stress ongoing all year and last month messed up my diet a lot.,

any advice would be appreciated .

ANSWER:
Any form of steroids will raise blood sugar levels through the roof. They will stay high until the steroids have worked out of your system. It will be impossible to get them back under control while on steroids without some other medication. I would talk to your doctor about some temporary meds that might help to keep those numbers in check until the steroids have cleared out.

QUESTION:
Diabetes Question?
I have type one diabetes, and lately my blood sugar levels have been running very high (in the 400′s and 500′s). I get my insulin shots like I’m supposed to, but it’s like that isn’t enough. Is there something else I can do to try to level it out? I’m a little nervous because around this time last year, I got very sick with the same thing and was in the hospital, and then I wasn’t able to eat correctly for almost 2 weeks. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

ANSWER:
Not really enough info. I can only think of a few possibilities. You might be becoming insulin resistant (like us type twos), you’re carbohydrate intake has increased, your insulin isn’t up to par, or you have some sort of stress/illness that your body is undergoing.

You didn’t mention your age, but if you’re over 40 and you’ve put on weight, it’s entirely possible that you’re becoming insulin resistant. If that’s the case, treat it the same as we type twos do… eat fewer carbs, eat more natural fruits and vegetables, and exercise more. All of those things help lower insulin resistance.

QUESTION:
My A1C level?
I haven’t been able to contact my doctor yet..but I’m wondering is there a way that I could find out my A1C level on my own..by looking at my blood sugar levels..Everyday I wake up my sugar is between 400-550…They told me that my Diabetes level is higher a few months ago..but I want to know how high it is…I am type 2 ..and I haven’t seen a range of 100-250 in almost a year..I am scared to death..because I’m just 28 years old..Any suggestions

ANSWER:
There isnt much of a way to figure out your A1C on your own without having a full three month record to average out. However if you call your Dr. office anyone there can look up your file and tell you what it is. If you are running that high your A1C is probably going to be above a 10. I would contact your Dr. and get in for some adjustments, especially if you have been running this high for a year. Your body is being damaged by these numbers, and its apparent that something needs changed be it oral meds, or going on insulin. If you cant get in with your normal Dr. look for another local Endocrinologist so that you are seeing a Diabetes specialist.

QUESTION:
Hypoglycemia and diabetes – do you limit sugar?
Based on my height, weight and lifestyle, I should be eating between 1,300 calories/day and 1,500 calories.
Based on USDA, I should eat less than 24 grams of added sugar… and my daily yogurt contains 21 grams of sugar!!!!!!!

you should eat 24 grams a day (6 teaspoons) if you eat 1,600 calories
40 grams for a 2,000-calorie diet
56 grams for a 2,400-calorie diet, and
72 grams for a 2,800-calorie diet.

My doctor told me to limit sugar… though I have hypoglycemia… she told me that hypoglycemia can be a sign of future diabetes… my family has diabetes. I am not overweight at all (5 foot 1 for 115lbs, I exercise everyday… but I was horrified to see that I eat more sugar than I should and that I still have hypoglycemia. I try to eat muts instead of sugar when I have my symptoms.

Any tips from those with hypoglycemia?
what do you eat when you feel like you need to get your glycemic level up?
I stop everything when I feel shaky and sweaty and I usually sit on the floor/ground until I eat something and I feel ok again.

ANSWER:
^You say you eat nuts, almonds and walnuts are the best to help level your glucose.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can be dangerous, you need to get your glucose up fast, especially if it’s really low, you can buy glucose pills over the counter, they are chewable, you can have a glass of milk or juice like orange, a tablespoon of honey will work as well.

You should check your glucose to see what your numbers are and if you need to take anything, sometimes you’re just hungry and need to eat. If you are low and take something to up your glucose, you need to monitor your glucose levels, take your blood between 15 to 30 minutes after you take something to make sure it going up, if it is, wait another 30 minutes and take it again, if you don’t feel well take it earlier and if it won’t go up, have someone take you to the hospital, don’t drive yourself. Talk to your doctor about a continuous glucose meter, it can help monitor your glucose and tell you when you are low, it will beep. Good luck, I hope this helps.

QUESTION:
What is the 200 Calorie ADA Diet?
My boyfriend is recently diagnosed with diabetes. It is not type 2 diabetes, he is not overweight. In fact, he’s underweight. He’s lost 16 pounds in one month. His primary care physician will not tell him what he can and cannot eat, aside from staying away from candy. He’s experienced blood sugar levels of 400-500! The other night he ended up in the ER because of his high blood sugar, and they told him they had no nutritional information to give him, but that he could do a search online for the “2000 cal ADA diet” and it would come up with information. Well, we searched, and we found nothing. Also, 2000 calories sounds like way too little sustinence for someone who is 6’3” and weighs 140 pounds!!! What can we do? What can he eat? Obviously no candy or cakes or a lot of carbs. But all this lean meat and vegetables are make him seriously underweight. Please help, doctors haven’t been any help!
I meant the “2000″ calorie ADA diet. (Obviously) Sorry for typo. Thanks.

ANSWER:
2000 cal ADA diet is just that – 2000 calories a day, mainly from proteins, veggies, and fruit, and little from carbs/sugars. you can actually eat very well and not lose weight on this diet, even if you are a man (who typically needs more food for more energy). its all about eating a balanced diet, making sure you have a protein at each meal (meat, cheese, etc), veggies, and only a few carbs. people can oftentimes feel full on this diet by incorporating higher amounts of fiber, such as beans or broccoli. try seeing if your doc will give you a referral to a dietician – the dietician can provide you with alot of information on this diet, including sample diets and literature to read.

QUESTION:
At what point does high blood sugar become an immediate threat that needs prompt medical attention?
I was recently diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I have been monitoring my sugar levels for a little over a year now anyways, because I was pre-diabetic/insulin resistant. Anyways, my insurance will no longer carry my test strips and I need to switch to a different brand, so I am out for the weekend. I feel blind not being able to check my sugars 2 hrs. post meals. Although they normally never get over 180 or so, I still feel paranoid that without my strips it could shoot up to the 300′s or something. I was wanting to know if anyone could tell me what point does hyperglycemia become a life threat? 200, 300, 400, how high? I keep a pretty strict diet, so the chances of it getting over 200 are slim, considering that a dose of 100g carbs only brought my sugar to 240 an hour later. Still I am concerned. My doctor seems to think I will be fine until monday without checking myself. In fact she says I check to often. I just want to make sure I never develop horrible diabetic complications. I know there are not really any “symptoms” besides thirst, hunger, and frequent urination.

So, my question is: When I do get my strips and I check my sugar, when does it become an emergency that would require immediate medical attention.

I hear of people having to go to the hospital for insulin drips and such, but I believe they were in the high 500/600 range. I just want to put my mind at ease and know when to take action.

Thanks

ANSWER:
Hello, I am a Type 2 Diabetic. First thing I would tell you is to sit and educate yourself on the disease, on pre-Dia and Type 2. Women with gestational diabetes are at higher risk for getting diabetes Type 2 later in life.

Rule of thumb is you do not want your BS (Blood Sugar) to get near a medical threatening stage. This is different for everybody. A normal person’s BS should range from under 120 when they wake up to under 140 after 2 hours of a meal. For pregnancy you will have to check with an Endocrinologist. I hope you are also under the care of an Endocrinologist while you have G. Diabetes. OB/GYN may not be as well versed in these matters and may give awkquard information. I would definately seek the advise of a Endo to make sure you are being giving the best information and how medications and diabetes will be affecting your child. From what I remember, most of the super big babies (14 lbs) you see on t.v. in third world countries, normally the mother was diabetic during pregnancy and didn’t recieve proper care. Babies just absorb the insulin and become real big. Please don’t just take my word for it go for a 2nd opinion with an Endocrinologist. Check to see if there is a diabetic clinic in your city. If not try to find a Diabetic Educator.

Blood Sugars differ with the individual. Your liver produces glucose which can shoot up your BS. If you are under stress or mad your BS can rise. So don’t always think you have to eat to have your BS to rise. People who are in the 500/600 range probably were not checking their BS at all and because of neglect ended up in the hospital.

Look go to tudiabetes.org. it is a community for diabetics. Sign in as a new member (free) go to the gestational forums and post this question. There will be lots of women who have gone though the same experience and can give you pointers.

AS for insurance and test strips..join the club…..there are pleaty of websites that sell test strips for your meter. I personally recommend EBAY. Every so often you can catch a deal on test strips and supplies.

I hope this helps.

QUESTION:
How many calories do I need to plan on consuming on a daily basis in order to lose weight?
I would like to start on an eating plan to control the type 2 diabetes I have and to lose weight so my blood sugar levels can get back to normal.

I have never excercised before and am quite sedentary. If I commit to walking one mile per day to start and my weight is close to 400 lbs. …. By combinning the walk every day and following a caloric intake of healthy meals….How many calories per day should I consume in order to lose the weight?

I would like to get down to at least 125-130 lbs. My goal is to get healthy, much thinner and get control of this disease or totally eradicate the need to be on medication by acheiving this. Is it too late for me?

I am fed up with being unhealthy!

PS: I am a female 45 years old and am 5’3 inches tall.

ANSWER:
It is NEVER too late and I truly applaud you for aspiring to get healthy. It is very difficult to break old eating habits, but if you stick with it, I assure you it is more than possible. Just remember it took a while to put the weight on and therefore it will take some time before it comes on, but do not give up!My dad is a type 2 diabetic as well and I know it makes dieting harder because your appetite is affected, just snack on protein bars (I like Luna bars…but they do have sugar in them) and fruits and veggies. The more healthy your food, the more of it you can eat. My dad always carries raisins around with him in case of low blood sugar.

As far as how many calories you should consume, please calculate your BMI (body mass index–included a link below) and from there you can calculate how many calories your body needs to maintain your current weight. Then from there you can come up with a healthy exercise plan. One pound is generally equal to 3,500 calories so that is why it is healthiest to shoot for a 1-2 pound weightloss per week. In the begining however you will probably shed pounds a lot quicker just by begining to exercise and eat healthy. This may seem daunting, but you will ultimately have changed your life, you’ll feel better, have more energy, and most importantly it will help control your diabetes.

From the info you gave, I figured out your body needs about 5,280 calories a day to stay at your current weight. So if you eat 500 calories less per day AND exercise off 250 calories per day then you will lose 1 1/2 pounds per week. You can slowly decrease your calories by more as your body gets used to the changes.

Never ever consume less than 1,200-1,500 calories per day unless instructed by a doctor because you can put your health at risk.

Again, I think it is really commendable of you to be doing this and no matter how hard it may be or how much you just want to quit, don’t! We’ve only got one life and it is never too late to try and make it better. I encourage you to read about the science of nutrition and fitness as I think it will help you in supporting your new lifestyle.

If you have any other questions, or are in need of support please feel free to email me! Good luck.

I’ve included some legitimate websites I think you would benefit from, including one on safe exercising and one telling you everything you need to know about healthy foods! I refer to that site all the time as they have recipes and meal plans too!

Oh, also I’m not a doctor just a health nut, so I feel obligated to tell you to see one (a Dr. not a nut…)so they they can approve your exercise and meal plans. Diabetes is very serious, as I’m sure you know, so just be careful and start slow!

QUESTION:
Can you explain this?? Impaired glucose tolerance and low sugar?
I’ve been told I have impaired glucose tolerance for nearly 20 years. I’ve had gestational diabetes 3x. I don’t understand it. Even when I was 16, if I had a regular breakfast (40g) of carbs, I’d fail the sugar test. Even when I was 25 and a size 2, I failed the test. It seems no matter what I do, my sugars go up. I watch what I eat, no fruit juice, simple sugars, limited carbs, VERY few desserts, etc. After I eat, even if the sugar doesn’t go higher than 140, 3 hours later it plummets. I’ve had sugars in the 50′s and 60′s. I get sweaty, shaky, and B**chy. The lowest I’ve caught it on my meter is 48.

If IGT is caused by reduced sensitivity to insulin, then why does it crash about 3 hours after I eat? It seems to me that my body puts the insulin in only after the sugar goes up. It seems like it lags behind.
Can anyone explain this to me?? If I recall correctly, my recent A1c was 5.9. I had a Slim-fast shake this morning, and 2 hours later felt very hungry. I couldn’t understand why. It dawned on me to test my sugar level and it was 181. The label says the shake had 30g of carbs (including the skim milk).

I have a meter from my pregnancies. My mom has MODY for the past few decades, and it VERY ill from it. Her sugars are regularly 400-600. Last time she was hospitalized it was 1420. I don’t want to end up like my mom. She is a brittle diabetic. My uncle, her brother, died at 45 from diabetes. My great grandmother was a Sioux indian.

I moved to FL and the last endocrinologist I went to told me to not come back till all of my sugars were over 200. He also said that sugars in the 50′s are normal when you diet. I think he is full of it. I had an endo at Yale that wanted to see me yearly, and now I can’t find a doctor to see me. Advice???

The only time my sugar doesn’t go up and I avoid a “crash” is with a meal with lots of protein, like bacon and eggs. But my last doctor got on my butt about too much fats and cholesterol. My HDL is sky high and my LDL is very low. I think the sugar issue is more important than cholesterol. My cholesterol is in the normal range and I eat approx.10-12 eggs a week.

ANSWER:
This forum has far too many limitations to answer your question with confidence. It does not sound as if you have impaired glucose tolerance based upon your A1C of 5.9%. Given your A1C if you have wide fluctuations in glucose – 181 mg/dL which is ‘high’ for a non-diabetic and as low as 48 mg/dL which is ‘low’ for a non-diabetic – you may very well have an auto-immune process that is affecting the alpha and beta cells of the pancreas. In addition you may have an insulin secreting adrenal adenoma. I would strongly encourage you to see a competent endocrinologist as the recommendation to come back when your glucose readings are consistently over 200 mg/dL is absolutely ridiculous. If I may be of further assistance please let me know. I wish you the very best of health and in all things may God bless.

QUESTION:
If a person has diabetes, how is a baseline found for long-lasting insulin (Lantus)?
My mother’s doctor has given her a low dosage of long-lasting insulin (Lantus, 24 units) along with a sliding scale for titration and her AM sugar levels are still so high–258, 353 & for two days they were over just over 400. Shouldn’t her baseline be daily gradually raised along with a sliding scale for high AM sugar readings? My mom is 91 years old & has been giving herself insulin for more than 30 years & is still sharp as a tack in her mind. Her assisted living nurse is now reading the order from her doctor & she does not have control of her insulin dosages. As her daughter, I try to be her advocate, but I feel frustrated and so does my mom. I am trying to get the doctor to daily increase her baseline to the point where it would be optimal. If anyone else has had to titrate their Lantus base daily (plus a sliding scale) please let my know how you did it. (Note: she is also taking Navolog for quick-acting insulin before meals.)

ANSWER:
Here is the problem. You can’t be certain of the answer because it could be a number of things. 1st: she may be “cheating” or eating sugar foods or too much carbs in the evening. Believe me, this is very common. You will not be able to understand this unless you have diabetes yourself. All diabetics do it to some extent and the older ones do statisticly take the “cheating” farther and there is MUCH less chance that they would tell you. They will lie or make excuses until they die (if they are cheating). PLEASE, take a look at this because it is much more common that you think. There is some drive to load up on carbs and sugar for diabetics, from time to time, and it is extremely hard to resist. Having ONLY diabetic candy around helps a-lot but is not a fix-all. There are some times when diabetics will go to outragious lengths for candy and the like. ANYONE even your mother, could be doing this. 2nd: You can’t be sure how a change will affect her sugars for the rest of the day. Are her sugar levels ok for the rest of the day? If yes, then she is probably cheating in the eveining or taking to much at dinner. Because, why would the sugars be high just in the morning? If you up the Lantis and the sugars are ok for the rest of the day, then she will go too low during the day. 3rd: When you are awake during the day you are able to take insulin and eat food but when you are asleep you can’t, makes sense right? However, if the balance is not a good fit then over long periods of non-adjustment (sleep when you don’t take insulin and food) it will go a little wrong and usually too high. 4th: You do not know what you are doing! If you had had diabeties for like 10 years or so and could “feel” it out with the help of a doctor I would say go with caution. Just um, a little messup could cause your mom to get a-lot worse, very fast. 5th: Your mom is 91 years old. High blood sugars are not fun but at her age most doctors and somepeople say that there is not much time left in life to cause significant damage. I think that is bogus and a cop-out for a little smart thinking in training the aging parent. If it is important enough then it can probably be done. 6th: When you get older your body gets worse at regulating it’s bloodsugar at a constant rate. *let me explain> Just about all diabetics’ bodies still produce insulin (which helps you keep in balance). Many young diabetics who appear to take good care of themselves do not and their body compensates a little and makes it look easy for them. Your mom may be experiencing this (a change in how her body is helping out -for short).

However, check out the cheating thing. But most improtant thing is to talk to the doctor one on one for some chit chat with the doctor, if it is allowed. Has the doc told you he will not change the base or did your mom? Maybe the doc knows it is not the base. The doc would be liable for a whole bunch of $ if he knew and didn’t try to fix. So, first, make sure the doctor does know that her sugars are up in the am! After there is assurance that he knows he should be rushing to do something, if he can. But you really need to get his side of the story. Let him know that “she is important to you” and “you will fight for her if need be” and that “there is something that you would like to discuss that you find alarming.” At that he will probably spill his guts and let you in on her cheating or rush to do something about it.

Don’t let up or give up on her, ever! She needs your help.

QUESTION:
Diabetes VERY HIGH, 585. Need advice?
My mother is 75. She was never a diabetic. Last week she was detected 585 sugar. We rushed to hospital and with insulin it came down to 200. Next day it went to same level. She is on medication by doctor with strict diet. It is now 4 days and still the blood sugar level is fluctuating between 400 to 500. She is at home with no physical symptoms. Should she be hospitalized? Is medication enough to bring the sugar level down and how many days will this take? Need advice? Doctors saying No need to hospitalized or insulin. Please advice?

ANSWER:
Wow – that’s high! I am assuming the doctor ran tests to see if your mom’s pancreas is producing insulin or not, so she must be otherwise she would definitely be needing insulin injections. If you are uncomfortable with her doctor’s advice or diagnosis, then you should get a 2nd opinion or at the very least ask him as many questions as you need to feel comfortable that he is doing all he can to bring her sugars down. The other poster is right about the timing of the testing being crucial to “accurate” readings – if you are testing too soon after she eats this could explain the high readings. Be sure and keep a log with the time tested, the result, and when the test was done in relation to when she ate.

QUESTION:
Ny friend was diagnosed with Diabetes and broke out in full body hives that have not gone away for four months?
His sugar levels were fine three months ago then he had a reading of over 400 at the next visit. This visit was because he had broken out in huge hives all over his body. Therese have not gone away. He itches to the point of unbearable constantly and the diabetes that seemed to appear out of now where is very hard to control. He also has coughing fits which medication has not really helped until I gave him my inhaler. He has no energy and is at his wits end. He has had one test where his cortisol level was high and the next was w/in normal limits. He has seen his primary, an endocrinologist, allergist and shrink. Has anyone had or know of what this could be?

ANSWER:
Depending on the cortisol test, he could still have Cushing’s syndrome.
Have him find another endo.

QUESTION:
Does anyone know where i can get free help on diabetes supplies?
I have been told that i have diabetes and i have trouble controlling it. So i have to keep checking several times a day so i run out of the strips real quick. The price per box are a little more than one 0 and i can go thru two three boxes a month. So i really need help since i’m single parent with 2children and having a hard time to begin with and now this to make things worst. I really love my children and i really need to take care of myself so ican be here to take care on them. My sugar level is always running anywhere between 400 to 525 so i’m at a very high risk on having a stroke, heart attack, and/or going into coma. So i have to keep checking so i can make sure i give myself my insulin to keep trying to bring it down. So if anybody knows where i can get some free help on supplies please help me. I do work and i can’t go to the free clinics for help on this, my children can’t even get any kind of assistance. Sorry i don’t mean to go on and on about this Thanks all!

ANSWER:
There is a program to help people with “No Insurance,”No Federal Assistance(like Medicaid)
“Low Income:”
Abbott Diabetic Care Patient Assistance Program
Call: 1-800-222-6885 (Toll Free)
If you qualify you will receive a “Good” glucose Meter “Free” and “Free” Glucose Strips every 3 months for (1 year.)According to your doctors prescription.
Call and wait to talk with an operator,they will tell you everything you will need to do.
They will send you an Application for you and your doctor to fill-out.Your doctor will need to write you a “Prescription” for “How Many Times A Day” He wants you to test your blood sugar. You will also need a copy of your last W-2 form.(Your Proof of Income) Send in everything they ask for to: Abbott Patient Assistance Program
Diabetes-Care
200 Abbott Park Rd. D-31c AP 52-1s
Abbott Park, IL. 60064-6161

After they receive everything, it takes about 2 weeks to process, You will receive a Letter letting you know if you have qualified for the Program. & about 1 week later you should receive your Meter & your first 3 month supplies if you qualified. It’s a “Great” Program.
You will need to re- apply to the program each year. You can call later and find out when you need to re-apply for the next year.

QUESTION:
health and Diet Question….diabetes, ulcer, self motivation is lacking help me!..?
I am having the hardest time doing two things 1. i am diabetic and no matter what i cant seem to stabilize my blood sugars, and i mean they bounce lows 50 highs 400 can anyone reccomend a good informational site or book that can direct me in the how many carbs equals… stufff? And 2. because of my unstabilized self i keep gettin sick. i now have an ulcer my problem here is i am gaining like a pound a day of weight but always feel to sick to workout, i need some motivation because feeling bad for myself hasnt motivated me off the couch yet. Not to mention i havent been feelin well and always tired due to my bouncy sugar levels.. help me
My ONLY problem with walkin is i live on a busy- yet country road with no side walks no anythin the road is barley wide enough to drve down W/ two cars add a person and its a little dangerous. there is a park about 5 miles fom me but its all about gettin into the car to get there just to walk.. now im making excuses,, haha i am lame.

ANSWER:
Start by walking around the block every day at a specific time. When you have walked around the block a few days, start walking around 2 blocks, then 3, then a mile, until you are walking an hour every day. Don’t let yourself weenie out because of rain or weather – get out there and walk. This will help your blood sugar, your weight and your energy level. I know it makes no sense if you are tired that exercise will INCREASE your energy, but it does. It is important to set a time and do this every day. You will see improvement in your health in 30 days. Good luck.

QUESTION:
Diabetes HELP SOS EMergency?
This is a repost, but im desperate for answers

My Friend has been hospitalized for 10 days and still in the hospital for type 2 diabetes. My friend is around 59 years old and about 20-25 lbs overweight. When he entered his glucose level was over 850 and was rushed to emergency. In two days they lowered his sugar level down a bit. But in these past 7 days at the hospital he would have scary glucose swings from a low 41 to a high 550 in a matter of a few hours. The doctor don’t know what is going on. He eats 3 meals a day with snack from the nutritional expert at the hospital. In a day his glucose level would be 250-300 in the morning, 130-145 1 pm, 40-50 around 5pm then 130 after meal then at around 8pm it would be 400-550 range.

Can anyone give any insights on this please? The doctor at Kaiser are clueless. And i dont think his weight is the main cause.

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
Diabetes type 2 HELP Glucose Fluctuation?
My Friend has been hospitalized for 10 days and still in the hospital for type 2 diabetes. My friend is around 59 years old and about 20-25 lbs overweight. When he entered his glucose level was over 850 and was rushed to emergency. In two days they lowered his sugar level down a bit. But in these past 7 days at the hospital he would have scary glucose swings from a low 41 to a high 550 in a matter of a few hours. The doctor don’t know what is going on. He eats 3 meals a day with snack from the nutritional expert at the hospital. In a day his glucose level would be 250-300 in the morning, 130-145 1 pm, 40-50 around 5pm then 130 after meal then at around 8pm it would be 400-550 range.

Can anyone give any insights on this please? The doctor at Kaiser are clueless. And i dont think his weight is the main cause.

ANSWER:
He needs to be checked for pancreatic cancer and inflamed pancreas. There is no reason why someone only 20 lbs overweight should have type 2 diabetes.

QUESTION:
Diabetes Type 2 Emergency?
My Friend has been hospitalized for 10 days and still in the hospital for type 2 diabetes. My friend is around 59 years old and about 20-25 lbs overweight. When he entered his glucose level was over 850 and was rushed to emergency. In two days they lowered his sugar level down a bit. But in these past 7 days at the hospital he would have scary glucose swings from a low 41 to a high 550 in a matter of a few hours. The doctor don’t know what is going on. He eats 3 meals a day with snack from the nutritional expert at the hospital. In a day his glucose level would be 250-300 in the morning, 130-145 1 pm, 40-50 around 5pm then 130 after meal then at around 8pm it would be 400-550 range.

When his glucose is about 40 he start shaking and sweating.

Can anyone give any insights on this please? The doctor at Kaiser are clueless. And i dont think his weight is the main cause.

ANSWER:

QUESTION:
why do i need A1c level test done twice in 30 days.?
I’m a bit scared. I went to the hospital about a month a go with flank pain and found out I was passing 2 kidney stones. while I was there I was informed that my sugar levels were very high 400. They asked me if I knew I had diabetes. Witch I didn’t till that very second. I was told to see my doctor in the morning and he set me up for 2 a1c level test.He said to do them 1 month apart. I was wondering if that was the norm. Then He wasn’t to see me and go over the tests. thanks for any help

ANSWER:
It´s better to patient. Consider the fact you are being taken care of. basically the doctor wants to know if your glucose levels went up that high because of your kidney stones. Remember that Diabetes works best when the kidneys and liver function normally. By altering the kidneys and not funtioning properly you may have altered the rest of the bodily functions.

A months is long enough to know if your body is not producing the insulin at all. The A1c tests the glucose levels as far back as 3 weeks. Before the test. Make sure to take alot of water during that month. It will help you regain your kidney functions and pass alot faster those kidney stones.

“Glycosylated (or glycated) hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1c, Hb1c , or HbA1c, A1C) is a form of hemoglobin used primarily to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods of time. It is formed in a non-enzymatic pathway by hemoglobin’s normal exposure to high plasma levels of glucose. Glycosylation of hemoglobin has been implicated in nephropathy and retinopathy in diabetes mellitus. Monitoring the HbA1c in type-1 diabetic patients may improve treatment”

QUESTION:
How high does your blood sugar need to be to get symptoms?
I was recently diagnosed with pre diabetes because I went to the doctor having all the main symptoms of diabetes. I had lost a lot of weight in just a short amount of time without trying. I was hungry all the time, but my stomach hurt. I was SO thirsty and I had to pee pretty much every 20 minutes. My doctor did the fasting glucose test and the A1C and said that my levels were close, but not quite diabetic yet. She also said that since my dad is diabetic and he has a meter that I should test periodically and if I start seeing numbers consistantly over 120 that I need to be retested. The reason I’m asking about symptoms is because someone I was talking to told me that unless your blood sugar is like 400 or higher you won’t have any of the symptoms I had. I haven’t tested very much, but I have a few times when I started to get the familiar symptoms and my blood sugar was pretty much always over 120. 2 of the times it was 150 5 hours after eating, but the next morning I checked and it had gone back down. So I was wondering if this friend was right or not? Does you blood sugar have to be REALLY high to have symptoms or does even just a little over 120 give some people them? Also, because it’s been high so often I find that I feel sicker when it drops back down again, even though I know it needs to be lower. Is there any way to fix that? I already eat really healthy, and I’ve cut out basically all sweets except on rare special occasions (like Christmas! Haha) Even when I do have them though it’s just in small portions. I’m an average weight, and I’ve started exercising more so that my body would need the carbs and sugar instead of having too much. Is there something else I need to be doing along with that? Does the fact that I’m doing everything my doctor said and still getting the high numbers mean that I’m going to get diabetes anyways? Please help!

ANSWER:
Mainly, high glucose levels cause Inflammation in the vessels of the body, which damages the lining of those vessels. High levels of 120 + and over in a consistent manner will damage your body. This makes it easier for plaques to form which can block off the vessel. This affects the following:

Blocked off vessels in the eyes, causing blindness
Blocked off vessels in the kidneys, causing renal failure
Blocked off vessels in the heart, leading to heart attack
Blocked off vessels in the brain, leading to stroke
Blocked off vessels in the feet, leading to nerve damage and possible amputation
Kidney Damage

Kidney damage can also be caused by large molecules of glucose being forced through the tiny “filter” holes in the kidney. This can create bigger holes that causes protein and other important substances to be lost which should be reabsorbed.

Poor Circulation

When blood sugars are high, the blood can become thicker and slower, which causes poor circulation to areas furthest from the heart, especially the feet, which can cause poor wound healing. If wounds become so infected that they cannot be treated, amputation may be necessary.

As you can see, keeping blood sugars in the best control possible will help prevent the vast majority of complications related to diabetes. Be sure to:

See your doctor regularly
Take your medications and test your blood sugars as directed
Watch the carbohydrate servings in your diet
Exercise as often as possible
These things will help keep your blood sugars in control and keep you healthy.

Hope this helps.

QUESTION:
Blood sugar level question?
Okay I take insulin for my diabetes, but this past week i haven’t been feeling well. I have been having leg pains, stabbing pains in my abdomen, excessive urination and pains in the right side of my head and have started to feel very weak, especially over the past few days.

I take my readings in the morning (before I drink and eat) it has been 350 to 400.

I also take a reading late afternoon hours after lunch and for the past 4 days it has been reading as (Hi) 600+.

I know those readings are quite high, but do you think It should warrant a trip to the ER?

The reason I ask is I had a flu about a week ago and I am wondering whether that might have had something to do with how I feel now and the readings I am getting.

ANSWER:
If your blood sugar is that high, you need to go to the ER. My doctor wants me to go to the ER if my blood sugar goes over 400. You should definitely call your doctor right now and let him/her know that your sugars are running so high, because your medicine and/or your diet needs to be adjusted. This is DANGEROUSLY high. I can’t say this strongly enough.

QUESTION:
My diabetes educator said I can eat what I want as long as I take the insulin to cover it…?
… I understand that fat slows digestion and can cause a spike in blood glucose levels after Humalog has done it’s job. So, that being said, and I have some ice cream, take the insulin to cover the carbohydrates in it, go to bed, and wake up this morning with a blood sugar approaching 400. I’m fine if I “can’t” have things like ice cream. But she says I can. I feel like she’s wrong. Any advice or experience with this? (I’m type 1, diagnosed 3-17-10, taking Humalog & Lantus).

ANSWER:
You can eat what you want and cover it with insulin. Obviously all people, not just people with diabetes, need to worry about good nutrition and not overindulging and gaining weight — but you can have treats when you want them.

My guess is you underestimated the carbs in the ice cream. What was your blood sugar before bed? And how long before bed did you eat the icecream? With new foods you may want to eat them in the afternoon when you have a lot more wiggle room to test and correct before sleeping for 8 hours. With stuff like ice cream I find I need a dual wave bolus (I’m on a pump) this would mean 2 shots if you’re not on a pump. 1 before the meal, 1 an hour or so after.

That said, there are some foods I just can’t figure out. I’ve got ice cream down, but I never seem to bolus right for Pad Thai. Thus, I avoid these yummy noodles most of the time. In time you’ll find the number of foods on the “I just can’t figure it out” list gets shorter and shorter.

QUESTION:
How to be a healthy diabetic?
I am 19 and I have had diabetes since i was 5. All the years all the way up to this year my blood sugar has been balanced and my A1C levels have never been above 6.7. But the past few months i feel like i am no longer healthy. My sugars are getting really hard to control. They are all over the place. one day my sugar will be 400 and one day it will 65. My blood sugar levels have never been this unbalanced. Also, my sugar went high (meaning 385 and above) maybe once or twice every few months. But now i am seeing my blood sugar reach 300 more often. A diabetic is supposed to eat a snack every 2 hours, however my blood sugars have never made have to do so. Also, my parents yell at me for not exercising. However, i am a 19 year old who just graduated high school and has been holding 3 to 4 jobs. When i have time to sit and be at home, i usually just want to relax. How do I become a healthier diabetic. I dint want to find myself in trouble later down the road. But now a days this decease is becoming a real hassle to control. Please…… someone help.

ANSWER:
You need to get back to diabetes basics. Testing before eating anything. Weighing and measuring to get accurate carb counts. Test two hours after eating. Write everything down. Look for patterns of highs and lows. It’s likely that you need to adjuct your insulin to carb ratios. The amount of insulin you need changes with time. It is not a constant value.
Ask your endo about a continuous glucose monitor that you can wear for a few days (or longer) to help you get your basal and bolus rates adjusted properly.

QUESTION:
Type 2 Diabetes Emergency Question?
I am a recently dx’d type 2 diabetic and my sugar readings are 400+ and I’ve already had my PM shot before dinner and now its spiked is it ok to give myself an extra shot of inslulin to lower levels?My Dosage now 22units AM 12unitsPM

ANSWER:
If it is over 400, you should always contact your doc to see what to do next.

QUESTION:
How can I help my son 30 who is diabetic, living with me, has no job,. I am widowed having hard times too.?
The problem with kicking him out is that he has diabetes really bad with blood sugars over 400 every day, he has no health insurance so he is just, well, I guess slowly dying. He doesn’t seem to understand about his diet, he eats anything. He is not overweight, on the contrary, 6′ tall 160#. He lost all the weight probably from the keytones eating up his fat stores. He has passed out twice, maybe more, two times that he has told me about, from high glucose levels I am sure, because he complained of intense thirst prior to blackout.
This delimma is worse because he is not willing to comply with his diet or his medications that we get free from some pharmacutical companys. I am almost bankrupt and getting depressed. I try to motivate him to get a job , so he will have something to do with his time and keep himself out of trouble, but he just seems lazy or doesn’t care. I work full time and very hard too. I am living pay check to paycheck. Do I kick him out?

ANSWER:
i am more or less in your son’s situation but you don’t state but rather imply that you are having to support him financially.of course this is wrong but here i am going to try and make you understand what a montrous problem your son has as i am in a good position to explain
the lack of understanding shown by my family has been a major factor in my attempting suicide.when a diabetic’s sugar is sky high he will headachy ,very irritable and drained of energy.when the sugar is controlled he will be subject to hypoglycaemia and blackouts from insufficient bloodstream sugar.my family absolutely refuses to accept that in a low blood sugar situation that the brain is starved of fuel,there is poor mental functioning and that it is very hard to control your temper.my mother says poont blank that i am just making an excuse and i hate her guts for it and pray every day that she will drop dead-my family are not uneducated or ignorant yet they fail to grasp this
what will really be depressing your son will be loss of libido and i apologise to you for broaching the subject as you are his mother but it is very important to make you understand how he is feeling;at this pont in his disease because of his age there will probably be no psychical damage to the vein system down but he will be psychologically operationally impotent because of the worry of his condition and the sheer awful dead feeling of running such a high blood sugar-combined wiht not having a job this will make him feel totally demoralised
you are right in thinking that he is living dangerously and he is slowly damaging himself but i reckon he is so demotivated now that all he wants is to forget about it;i think that kicking him out of the house should only be considered after you find a way to motivate him;you don’t tell what is his personality wthout the diabetes so we have no way of knowing whether he would struggle with life anyway or whether it was just the last straw in a life where he was struggling to cope anyway;this was certainly my case
dealing wiht the diabetes requires a massive effort of will and coordination and your job is to spark that will.-one of the problems with diabetes is that even if you change your diet and control the sugar you will be weakened for months afterward while your body deals withe the lower sugar levels and being in the normall zone as a diabetic i.e a reading of five would be perfectly comfortable for an ordinary person but a newly controlled diabetic would struggle on that.the libido does not come back immediately and the memory of hte psychological impotence takes time to recede
diabetes can be beaten and i have it under control now although all i wanted to do was give up and still do want to give up-breaking the habits of a lifetime say for example a chocolate habit i had since i was a kid was hard but gratifying
the only thing i can think of to motivate him and sorry for mentioning it again is to restore his libido-tell him once he stabilises his sugars and he can do this in a week and using short term viagra to give him confidence he can be back in action on that front almost immediately;that will give him a reason to control his diabetes
you can get a little idea of what its like if you fast too long or take some diabetic meds.
i have gone on and on and repeated to make you undeerstand the nature of his problem;show him my email and you have my address if you want me to explain some of the tricks of the trade for managing the disease
the start point is that you now understand what you are up against and mum will have to dig deep into her mothering abilities but make it clear to him that it cant go on forever-in my case i had to metaphorically hold a gun to my mother’s head to loosen the purse strings by making genuine and repeated attempts to commit suicide-but there is a real possibility of a diabetic falling into despair and forgetting that other people have struggles too-in my case it does tend to take over my life
make it clear to him that you will always be there for him but that small changes have to be made otherwise he will not make an effort but this is a very tricky thing as it took me years to sort it out and if someone had pushed me i would have given up completely
demand some proof say check his bm levels
good luck,mum and don’t be afraid to come back to me at any time
after thinking about it i would say that you need to admit him as a medical emergency and i would guess that he is also in need of anti depressant treatment-good luck
i have just received a reply from pink thong who made the massages comment to you after i asked her why on earth she said taht to you;her reply was that it was an unbelievable sob story and i must say her reaction is typical of the many negative reactions i get to my condition-anger ,disbelief ,hostility ,fear,stupidity and indifference and the worst ones are the ones who think they know about it-certainly someone could have invented a story and i can’t imagine why unless yahoo users are even sicker than i thought but i answer these questions rather like an agony column aunt;the specific letters aren’t real but are representative of questions and are there as a sort of template to instruct people
i dont really appreciate ppl who tell me i am a n idiot

QUESTION:
Can urine test be negative for ketone and sugar?
Is it possible for a urine test to check for ketone and sugar in the urine be incorrect? I took my 2 ½ year old daughter to the doctor yesterday to be tested for diabetes because of excessive drinking and urine output (which I assume from drinking). When she had her 2 year checkup in July she weighed 31lbs which she stills weighs now according to the doctors office yesterday and that is with clothes on. The test at the doctor’s office was negative for ketone and sugar so the doctor just said to keep an eye on her and give it 3 months.

I did go out and buy a glucose meter just to check her levels. Some of her levels were in the 80’s in the morning, one at 60 in the evening before mealtime, and 1 that was 168 in the morning. I checked one time as well after we ate dinner and it was 400 and she didn’t eat very well, I doubled checked again because that seemed high and it said 365. About an hour after that I checked one more time and it read 99.

She drinks more diluted juice than anything else. Her cup will contain very little juice and the rest water. We ran out of juice last night and I thought this would help with her not wanting to drink as much but nope it sure didn’t. She drank 3 cups this morning in an hour of milk.

Her appetite appears to be a little more than normal but nothing I would say is excessive. Her mood changes a lot as well. She seems to want to cuddle more than play and she seems to get mad at the drop of a hat.

ANSWER:
So you bought a blood glucose meter to test her? Blood sugars can go up and down with food consumption. Did you calibrate it before you used it? Some need to be calibrated (ie use a test strip, and put the code into the machine), and some don’t. It should never be over 110 fasting in the morning. 110-125 is the threshold for adult pre-diabetes. Over that is diabetes.
” Normal fasting blood glucose is below 100 mg/dl. A person with pre-diabetes has a fasting blood glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dl. If the blood glucose level rises to 126 mg/dl or above, a person has diabetes.” from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/pre-diabetes/pre-diabetes-faqs.html

A reading of 400 is NEVER normal. Anything over 200 is damaging to the blood vessels in the eyes. Diabetes can cause blindness. It is also damaging to the heart and kidneys. My mother has had diabetes for years and has heart and kidney failure. She has open sores on her feet and can’t see well. Her sugar last year of 1420 caused sepsis and an ICU stay of 9 days. She could have died.

This is a medical emergency. Call the doctor today and demand a visit. Tell them you have proof. If they refuse to see you, then go to an ER.

The presence of Ketones can be normal even if the person has diabetes. Ketones are caused by the body not being able to use glucose for fuel, and breaks down muscle and fat for energy. Ketones is found when the sugars are high. If my mom had a blood sugar of 200 , her ketone test could still be normal. Sugar could be normal even if the person is diabetic. I have no idea why the doctor would use the urine test strip on your child. That is technology from 20 years ago. It is the worst way, least accurate test for diabetes. I have a suspicion that the doctor thinks you’re imagining things. The gold standard would be a glucose tolerance test or A1C.

I had gestational diabetes on 3 of my 4 pregnancies. While my fasting would be perfect, my levels could shoot up to 250. I was told if I couldn’t control my sugars by diet, they would stick me on insulin. One doctor didn’t believe me that I had gestational diabetes. She said “You’re not fat or old enough to have it.” Well I ended up with an 11 lb 4 oz baby at 39 weeks. He went in the NICU diagnosed as an infant of a diabetic mom. Who was right? That OB didn’t care. Some doctors don’t. You must find one that listens to you.

Juice is one of the worst things to give a child who is diabetic. You are better off giving her flavored milk. The fat content will help the sugar issue. MAKE SURE that you use sugar free flavoring though. Hersey’s has both chocolate and strawberry sugar free flavoring. Juice will cause her sugars to go up and down like a yo-yo.

Stick to your guns. If there is a children’s hospital near you, I would go to that er. Don’t wait three months. Your daughter’s health is at risk.

QUESTION:
is this Type 1 or 2 diabetes?
I am 23 and was diagnosed with diabetes at age 21. At the same time I was being diagnosed with Celiac disease. Since then I have weighed around 75-85Lbs, I am around 4’10 so that is still underweight. My blood sugar went from around 200 to 400 within a month (eating the same amount of the same food) and I was put on oral meds. There is no Diabetes in my family at all. I have never been very active and used to eat quite a bit though, I used to weigh 100Lbs but since the Celiac got active I lost all that weight and havent been able to regain it. My cholesterol level was borderline at diagnosis but I think it has got a lot better with my change in diet. Could this be type 1.5? I never heard of a underweight person having type 2 diabetes but is it possible? especially at my age?
jalee- that is actually what I was thinking, could they have misdiagnosed me? my levels are not at 400 now, i have managed to keep it under control with diet/pills. But I have to be very careful with carbs of course or it will go very high even when taking meds. Unfortunately I dont get to pick my doctor, I am on goldcard which is a government plan.
Barbara- I am pretty sure Mary Tyler Moore is a type 1 Diabetic, but I could be wrong though.

ANSWER:
Oddly enough, some recent research has indicate that there may be a link between Celiac Disease and Type 1 Diabetes. Many researchers think that BOTH disease are “auto-immune” diseases — your body’s immune system is “out of whack”, probably due to a genetic problem.

Stay in very close touch with your doctor! If you DO have Type 1 Diabetes, you need insulin injections. There is NO oral medication available for Type 1 Diabetes.

At least for the time being, you should see your doctor at least once a month, maybe sooner.

DO NOT let the diabetes get out of control. Ask your doctor for a referral to an ENDOCRINOLOGIST for further treatment.

BTW: There IS NO “1.5″ There is Type 1 Diabetes, which is complete failure of the pancreas, and Type 2 Diabetes which is failure of the pancreas to produce ENOUGH insulin, OR the body’s inability to use insulin (insulin resistant diabetes).

IF the autoimmune link between Celiac Disease and Diabetes is true in your case, you have (or are developing) Type 1.

QUESTION:
Honeymoon phase of diabetes?
I have been a type 2 diabetic for about 10 years following a serious bout of pancreatitis. At first my blood sugars were bad, some fasting values of over 400, but as it wore on I got a little better and just needed to control it with diet and exercise.

Whenever I got pregnant I would have to go on insulin, after the births my levels would get better.

Now I’m pregnant again, at the beginning of my pregnancy I went on insulin and oddly had to stop, 2 hours after a meal my levels would drop to 40. Now I act like I’m not a diabetic anymore, which is very strange for me now that I’m nearing the 7th month. By now I’m usually on a pretty large dose of 2 different insulins, but I don’t need anything now.

My endocrinologist said he thinks my pancreas is working overtime for some reason, we’ll have more testing when I go back. He said most people recover from post pancreatitis diabetes within a few months, but I’ve hung onto this for 10 years.

Has anyone experienced anything like this and what happened? My fasting levels now are usually 78-90 and 2 hours after a meal its about 90-100. If I am in the honeymoon phase, how long will this last since I’m older (31) doesn’t it last longer?
He does an A1C every visit. It’s excellent most times.

ANSWER:
Your endo should be doing an A1C on you, not just an overnight fasting or after meals. An A1C checks the average level for about three months. I hope you have recovered from the pancreatitis though and can go off the insulin altogether.

QUESTION:
Is there anyway to get around this situation?
I’m currently 17 and I am diabetic. I have type 1 diabetes. I have done for 10 years next week. I have been receiving DLA (disability living allowance) for this time, and my mum has been receiving carers allowance. My mum works at a school and her boyfriend works at a airport. I’m currently at college d trying to get a part time job. We recently received a letter saying that our money is being stopped as I no longer need it. (we are now losing over £400 a month) We are finding ways to save money but it is impossible to save an extra £400 a month. We are a very low income family and without this money we can not afford to buy food. with me being diabetic I need to eat and have money incase my sugar levels fall low and need food. We can make an appeal to the DLA but it is pointless as not evn my tutor’s hhusband has been given his money (he is wheelchair bound). Is there anything I can do?
I’ve been trying to get a job but with this economy and being at college it is very difficult. I am looking every day for a job. And diabetes is classed as a disability.

ANSWER:
You’re diabetic, not disabled. Get a job.

QUESTION:
A case of peripheral vascular disease, vascular surgons/ intervention cardiologist please?
One of my patient named Mr. Dhirajbhai Shah 69yrs/ male, he is known case of

Diabetes > 10 yrs

Hypertension > 10 yrs

Ventricular outflow obstruction in brain > 10 yrs

Diabetic nephropathy for last 3 yrs

Benign prostatic hypertrophy for last 6 months

Operated case of CABG and Cholecystectomy,

He developed pain in both legs, pain increases at the time of walking, one limb is swalloen because of filariasis from a long time, his sugar level is under control, s. creatinine is 2.3, no other gross abnormalities in blood reports.

His MR angio of both lowerlimb reveals,

* Narrowing of the distal portion of abdominal aorta

* Non visualisation of right common iliac artery with reformation of right external iliac via collaterals

ANSWER:
MR angio is famous for not well visualising the lower extremity arteries in detail.

Without seeing the angios, it hard to tell if an endovascular procedure would work. It might be worth it to get a standard angiogram (after proper premedication and hydration). This would provide the interventionalist with badly needed info. If there is significant stenosis in the aorto-iliac vessels, it might be treated with stents.

One possiblity is athrectomy using a device called the Silver Hawk.

However, this isn’t always possible/successful.

A bypass would only work if there are good target vessels below the SFAs.

Difficult situation. Best of luck.

QUESTION:
Diabetic Question When should I take my wife to the hospital?
My wife was diagnosed with diabetes on the 6th of April and they have started her on pills to regulate her. At the doctors office her blood sugar was 525 and after 2 weeks it still hasn’t went below 325 and usually spikes in the 400’s a couple hours after she eats. She is not overweight and is only 24. At what blood sugar level should be worried about and when should I take her to the hospital?
She has been keeping under 35 gms a meal usually no more then 1-2 gms of sugar. her doc is closed on fridays and she spiked 445 an hour after her lunch. and then it went down to 350 after another hour. just been a confusing and troubleing time for us.

ANSWER:
Find her a new doctor, any doctor who does not give insulin to a non overweight 24 yr old with a 525 blood glucose level should have their license revoked. She needs to see an endocrinologist that specializes in diabetes as soon as possible, call one tell them her numbers they will probably tell you to go to the ER. If she hits 450 just take her yourself. She should not drive until it is under control.

QUESTION:
Avoiding Gestational Diabetes: What should I do the days before testing?
I BARELY didn’t pass with my first pregnancy. Where I should have been under ___ I was, at my highest point, 14 points over. I felt like it was ridiculous for me to have the diet and blood sugar checker when I was still so close to normal. I wasn’t in the 200-400′s or anything crazy! Just 7, 10, and 14 points over the “norm”… I really think it was my carb intake the night before the test. I am hoping I can avoid it this time… any suggestions on how to stay at the normal level??? (I don’t have high blood sugar usually.. I just ate unhealthy during that pregnancy.. I have been careful with this one.)

ANSWER:
It’s not so much the eating carbs as it is soda and candy…if you can stay away from the sugar and maybe cut out some pasta you should be ok…i had GD when i was pregnant and it was because of my candy cravings. The crazy amounts of sugar in the stuff I ate caused mine. Just relax, take a deep breathe and be confident in yourself.

QUESTION:
Trouble with High Blood Sugars?
I have had Type 1 diabetes for 13 years – Every fall/winter (October-February), my blood sugar goes HAYWIRE!!! (Gigantic swings, from 400′s to 50′s at least 3 times a week) I have seen numerous doctors, but no one seems to have answers. My activity levels, eating habits, and stress level remain constant throughout the year – any ideas on why this is happening?

ANSWER:
Are you worried because of your high morning blood glucose levels? If you are, then read further to find a simplest solution. The most uncontrollable part of the glucose level is the morning glucose, reason is not that it is very difficult to control it, rather most of us fail to understand the cause of its being high.

Cause # 1

During sleep, your blood glucose may fall from the insulin you took that day, and the hormones that raise blood glucose may be secreted, resulting in high blood glucose in the morning. This is called the Somogyi effect after the doctor who first described it. Some mornings, the blood glucose may be low if it didn’t get low enough to trigger hormone secretion, whereas other mornings it may be high. If you fail to realize that the cause is too much insulin and not too little, you may increase your insulin and make the situation worse. Before you increase insulin at bedtime, do a blood glucose test in the middle of the night. If the level is low, you probably has the Somogyi effect, and you should decrease, not increase, the amount of long-acting insulin you give him at bedtime.

QUESTION:
My boyfriend is Type 1 diabetic, and his sugars are out of control?
Its rare that he will even test his sugars. I looked at his gluccmoter last night, and his levels seem to be an average of 400+. This is not good, at all I know. What can I do to help him keep his levels “normal” He wont go to the Dr’s. to get his A1C levels checked. Im at a loss and scared for him. This past March, he was admitted into ICU because his sugars were off the chart, way above 1000. Yeah, 1000. It wouldn’t even register on the gluccmoter, and he was in there for 3 days. Since he had gotten out, he has yet to go to the Dr. I am also afraid that this is leading to other health problems for him.

:[
What should I do? I know riding him about this will make him not want to go it, but I am at the point to where I am about to beat him over the head so that he doesn’t end up in ICU, let alone the hospital again.

Since I know he will eat anything, and anything that I cook, should I just go get an ADA cook book and have him on a strict diet? He wont go to a diabetes educator, or anything. I feel so bad for him, but yet, if he doesn’t shape up, hell die.

ANSWER:
His blood sugars are high enough that dieting alone is not going to work. He is going to have to go to the doctor and get on medication because he is slowly killing himself. These high blood sugars are destroying his kidneys, heart, nerves, every organ in his body and he won’t live long.
Go to www.diabetes.com, it is the website for the American Diabetes Association and see what information you can get from them. It won’t hurt for you to read up on diabetes and try to prepare diabetic friendly meals for him, but I have a feeling he is going to be very uncooperative about trying to control his diet. Does he not realize that these blood sugars put him at high risk for a stroke or heart attack.
Unfortunately,you can’t make a person seek medical treatment, but you can certainly nag him if he doesn’t and I would. I’m not sure I wouldn’t tell him you weren’t going to stay around and watch him die.

QUESTION:
Diabetes Question?
My nana has cancer and the nurse that goes to her home says that her Sugar level should be around 400 after a meal, does this seem high? She has a tumor in her stomach and one in her head. Does anyone know why they would want her sugar to be that high? And what the levels should be? And if so, where I can find info?

ANSWER:
well my niece and b/f are both diabetics and that is high(400). A normal level would be 70 – 160.. being in the 400′s or higher could put someone in a diabetic coma and dropping to low could also do the same.. the only way to get someone to drop is to exercise to the point that your sweating ridiculously or insulin.. but being she has a few other major problems i don’t know why they’d want it to be that high.. maybe you could get ahold of her doctor and ask why it’s so high and if thats ok.. i pray for your grandmother to get better or at least be at ease with what problems she does have.. god bless you for being so concerned and you are both in my prayers.. good luck and best wishes..

QUESTION:
Diabetes Question…?
My daughter is 3 and for the past 2 years she has had extremly high blood sugars upward of 400 and extremely low (35-40). She has been hospitalized several times due to these issues and she also has complex partial seizures. The doctors cant seem to figure out what is going on. Her A1C levels have always been borderline diabetic. What im wondering is… Is there a chance that she actually does have diabetes? and should i maybe take her to a different specalist again. No one in our area can figure out what is going on. And if not diabetes any ideas that may lead me in the right direction will be greatly appreciated. No rude/nasty remarks please. I take very good care of my daughter. Thank you.

ANSWER:
Definatley take her to a different specialist. Theres more than A1C levels that should be considered in determining if shes diabetic or not.

Have they checked fasting bloodsugar? Insulin Levels?

Im borderline diabetic, and my bloodsugar at its highest iit ever was, was like 360 when i was 9 cause i had too much candy on halloween. Other than that, its always been below 250.

Get it figured out before shes older. Its so much worse when your a teenager, trust me.

I cant think of anything else it could be, that would have to do with bloodsugars.

(theres some rare thing that runs in girls with blonde hair and blue eyes..? I was tested for it when I was about her age.. I forget what its called, If she has blonde hair and blue eyes you could ask about it..)

So yeah, I hope this helps.

QUESTION:
Can urine test be negative for ketone and sugar?
Is it possible for a urine test to check for ketone and sugar in the urine be incorrect? I took my 2 ½ year old daughter to the doctor yesterday to be tested for diabetes because of excessive drinking and urine output (which I assume from drinking). When she had her 2 year checkup in July she weighed 31lbs which she stills weighs now according to the doctors office yesterday and that is with clothes on. The test at the doctor’s office was negative for ketone and sugar so the doctor just said to keep an eye on her and give it 3 months.

I did go out and buy a glucose meter just to check her levels. Some of her levels were in the 80’s in the morning, one at 60 in the evening before mealtime, and 1 that was 168 in the morning. I checked one time as well after we ate dinner and it was 400 and she didn’t eat very well, I doubled checked again because that seemed high and it said 365. About an hour after that I checked one more time and it read 99.

She drinks more diluted juice than anything else. Her cup will contain very little juice and the rest water. We ran out of juice last night and I thought this would help with her not wanting to drink as much but nope it sure didn’t. She drank 3 cups this morning in an hour of milk, eh eh eh.

Her appetite appears to be a little more than normal but nothing I would say is excessive. Her mood changes a lot as well. She seems to want to cuddle more than play and she seems to get mad at the drop of a hat.

Any ideas?

ANSWER:
it is extremely unlikely that the urine tests were wrong, but my question is WHY is the doctor using them? Is he from,. like 1960?

The BEST possible test for diabetes is the A1C test. It is GREAT for children, because you do NOT have to watch their diet for 2-3 days before taking the test. The A1C test take a 90-day-average, so one day of eating poorly won;t effect the test, and 2-3 days of eating correctly before the test won;t “fool” it.

This IS a blood test, and that is a scary thought, but if your doctor is an Endocrinologist he may have the machine right there in his office, so the test only take ONE DROP of blood, the same as for the individual “finger stick” tests.

ASK you doctor for the A1C test. If he refuses, go to a doctor who WILL give it.

You might think it is impossible to lower your blood sugar levels without the use of drugs.

Well, if you are tired of taking so many different pillsto controlyour high blood sugar levels you should pay close attention to what you eat in order to avoid other health complications that are also related to diabetes.

“I was told in rapid succession that I was suffering from intermittent claudication (that’s blocked arteries in the legs), high blood pressure, Diabetes Type 2. and that I was overweight. Not a lot of pleasure there! The intermittent claudication made it increasingly difficult to do much, so that in effect I had become a prisoner to my house and garden. Exercise was out of the question, my legs simply couldn’t cope, but it was hoped that angioplasty to each leg would cure the problem. It didn’t. My high blood pressure, I was assured, could be treated by a cocktail of drugs and by weight loss. The cocktail of four different drugs worked, but I could not seem to lose weight”

So I was given a choice: the blood sugar levels could be controlled either by drugs or by diet. Since I was already taking four different drugs for blood pressure, I thought it best to try diet control. I was also hopeful that this might help me to lose weight. But where to start? My diabetic nurse provided me with a blood sugar monitor and said I should aim to stay under 9 as my reading. My Doctor said to stay under 7. Now she has reduced this to under 5. My current long-term reading is 5.3. A big drop from the high readings I used to produce.